No account needed for chapter one. A free account opens the whole text.
The Hunchback's Tale
Anonymous · 1885 · Fantasy, Satire & Humor
A supper mishap sends four frightened householders toward the gallows, where confession opens into confession and a famously talkative barber turns catastrophe into a contest of stories.
Inside this edition
Every LitLab edition is illustrated from the text itself — the world of the book mapped, its people drawn, its scenes staged. 25 plates are open to everyone in this book; here are 8 of them.
The Story-World — China, Cairo, Baghdad and DamascusA literary atlas for the frame and nested tales.
The Tailor's QuarterSupper room, lane and neighbouring houses.
Connections — Four ConfessionsThe premise links a supper, four households and a royal court.
The Characters — A Court of StorytellersTen frame and nested-tale identities; appearances are editorial interpretations.
The Tailor — Profilehost and first confessor
The Tailor's Wife — Profilehostess whose quick plan begins the chain
An Evening InvitationThe Tailor and his wife meet the court musician
Four Stories Before the KingThe accused stand in the listening court
This edition
- Title
- The Hunchback's Tale
- Author
- Anonymous
- First published
- 1885
- Illustrated plates
- 58 original artworks · 25 open to everyone
- Chapters
- 10 · about 38,616 words
- Reading time
- 2 h 34 min
- Language
- EN
- Formats
- Read online · EPUB and PDF download with a subscription
- Publisher
- LitLab — The Illustrated Classics
- On LitLab since
- September 2026
- Rights
- Text in the public domain. Illustrations and edition © LitLab.
- Source text
- Project Gutenberg #51252
Neighbours in the library
Chosen by what they share with The Hunchback's Tale — the same genre.
Abu Mohammed Lazybones and Other Court TalesFantasy · 1880s
Ala al-Din Abu al-ShamatFantasy · 1880s
Hatim of Tayy and Other Tales of Generosity and AdventureFantasy · 1880s
King Omar bin al-Nu'uman and His SonsFantasy · 1880s
King Shahryar and ShahrazadFantasy · 1880s
The Birds and Beasts and the CarpenterFantasy · 1880s