The agony of Notre Dame

摘要

THE CATHEDRAL of Notre Dame is a "ma-jestic and sublime edifice", a "vast symphony in stone", wrote Victor Hugo. "Every surface, every stone of this venerable pile, is a page of the history not only of the country, but of science and of art." The devastating fire that broke out on April 15th, and destroyed much of the gothic cathedral's wood-timbered roof and spire, stunned and distressed the French with a force that far exceeded the building's religious significance. As the flames engulfed the roof, President Emmanuel Macron spoke for many across France when he tweeted that he was witnessing "part of us burn".