HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. 'Look! You want to see! See! Feast your eyes, glut your soul on my cursed ugliness! Look at Erik's face! Now you know the face of the voice!' Living secretly beneath the Paris Opera House, 'The Phantom of the Opera', Erik has haunted those who work there with his demands and shrouded the opera house in fear with the legend of his disfigured face. When Christine joins the company, a young woman with a beautiful voice, Erik is instantly smitten and secretly teaches her to become a great singer. He soon develops an obsessive love for his beautiful protege, even though she has fallen for her childhood friend, resulting in her disappearance during a performance and sparking a tragic and terrifying chain of events. One of the most well-known and well-loved gothic horror stories, Leroux's suspenseful tale of unrequited love, passion and tragedy is both dark and moving in its portrayal of Erik, the anti-hero in his yearning for Christine.

First published by Dedalus in 1997, this locked-room detective novel from 1908 is a classic of early 20th-century detective fiction. At the heart of the novel is the enigma: how could a murder take place in a locked room which shows no sign of being entered? The novel is also about the rivalry between detective Frederick Larson and a young investigative journalist, Rouletabille. Larson finds a suspect who is put on trial, only to have him cleared by Rouletabille, who dramatically reveals the identity of the real murderer. The Mystery of the Yellow Room is a novel which consciously tries to outdo the traditional detective novel with classic intellectual conundrums.

The story that has captured the imagination of readers for a century, this world-renowned gothic novel, the basis for Andrew Lloyd Webber's long-running musical, is now available in this striking Centennial Edition, featuring a new Afterword. Revised reissue.

Based on the translation by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos. With an Introduction by David Stuart Davies. '... the shadow turned round; and I saw a terrible death's-head, which darted a look at me from a pair of scorching eyes. I felt as if I were face to face with Satan...' Erik, the Phantom of the Paris Opera House, is one of the great icons of horror literature. This tormented and disfigured creature has made his home in the labyrinthine cellars of this opulent building where he can indulge in his great passion for music, which is a substitute for the love and emotion denied him because of his ghastly appearance. It is in the Opera House that he encounters Christine Daae whom he trains in secret to become a great singer. Erik's passionate obsession with a beautiful woman beyond his reach is doomed and leads to the dramatic tragic finale. Gaston Leroux's novel is a marvellous blend of detective story, romance and spine-tingling terror which has fascinated readers ever since the work was first published.

Rumored to be haunted, the Palais Garnier opera house in nineteenth-century Paris is the setting for this story of a dangerous love triangle involving a young Swedish soprano, her mysterious “Phantom” tutor, and her childhood friend. When Carlotta, the lead soprano, takes ill and Christine Daaé’s understudy performance is a rousing success, Vicomte Raoul de Chagny falls in love with Christine. Meanwhile, her tutor, “the Angel of Music,” whom she believes has been sent by her deceased father, is also coveting Christine’s affections. But the Angel is no phantom as everyone believes, and his fears of Christine’s rejection due to his masked disfigurement prompts him to abduct her and extract a promise of marriage born of wild jealousy. This latest addition to the Word Cloud Classic series will have you burning the candles low to reach the dark, gothic ending.

This thrilling novel and its many adaptations have captured the imaginations of countless audiences throughout the 20th century. The mystery classic featuring the "ghost" of the famed Paris landmark tells a gripping tale of human desire, fear, and violence before it resolves itself in a shocking and tragic confrontation.

"One of the most famous ghost stories that no one has actually read" (New York Times), The Phantom of the Opera is the first in the Haunted Library Horror Classics series presented by the Horror Writers Association. An unabridged edition of the novel that inspired the famous Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Deep beneath the Paris Opera House, a masked man lives in silence... Every night at the Palais Garnier, hundreds of guests sit on the edge of velvet-covered seats, waiting for prima donna La Carlotta to take the stage. But when her voice fails her, La Carlotta is replaced with unknown understudy Christine Daae, a young soprano whose vibrant singing fills every corner of the house and wins her a slew of admirers, including an old childhood friend who soon professes his love for her. But unknown to Christine is another man, who lurks out of sight behind the heavy curtains of the opera, who can move about the building undetected, who will do anything to make sure Christine will keep singing just for him... This curated edition of The Phantom of the Opera, based on the original 1911 English translation by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos, brings an iconic story of love and obsession to today's readers and illuminates the timeless appeal of Leroux's masterpiece.

Raoul reunites with his childhood love, Christine, after he watches her performance at the Opera House. However, there seems to be an opera ghost making demands. Join Raoul as he explores with Christine and discovers the secret of the Opera House!Taking classic stories from Asia and the West, Pop! Lit for Kids reimagines them into easy-to-read stories that provide the perfect introduction to classic tales. The most well-loved stories from around the world have been adapted into a form that will excite and entertain children everywhere.

Raoul reunites with his childhood love, Christine, after he watches her performance at the Opera House. However, there seems to be an opera ghost making demands. Join Raoul as he explores with Christine and discovers the secret of the Opera House!Taking classic stories from Asia and the West, Pop! Lit for Kids reimagines them into easy-to-read stories that provide the perfect introduction to classic tales. The most well-loved stories from around the world have been adapted into a form that will excite and entertain children everywhere.

Taking classic stories from Asia and the West, Pop! Lit for Kids reimagines them into easy-to-read stories that provide the perfect introduction to classic tales. The most well-loved stories from around the world have been adapted into a form that will excite and entertain children everywhere.

The Phantom of the Opera is perhaps best known for its many stage and screen adaptations, but Gaston Leroux's original text surpasses them all for its Gothic tension and haunting horror. Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure. This edition features an afterword by dramatist Peter Harness. Strange things are going on at the Paris Opera House; a mysterious phantom - a skeleton in dinner dress - is wreaking havoc amongst the singers and backstage staff. But when new managers take over and dismiss the rumours of the Opera Ghost, the terror really begins. Who is the curious figure stalking the stage at night? How can he be in so many places at once, entering and leaving locked rooms at will? And what is his connection to the beautiful and talented young soloist, Christine?

The Mystery of the Yellow Room (1908) is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. Originally serialized in L'Illustration from September to November 1907, The Mystery of the Yellow Room marked the first appearance of popular character Joseph Rouletabille, a reporter and part-time sleuth who features in several of Leroux's novels. Originally a journalist, Leroux turned to fiction after reading the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe. Often considered one of the best locked-room mysteries of all time, the novel has been adapted several times for film and television. Joseph Rouletabille is more than meets the eye. A reporter by profession, he spends his free time working as an amateur detective, using his journalistic talents to compile facts and track down leads. When the young daughter of a prominent professor is found badly beaten in a locked room at the Chateau du Glandier, Roulebatille sets out to investigate with his trusted assistant Sainclair. After conducting interviews with several members of the castle staff, he is told that France's top detective Frederic Larsan has been assigned to the case. Larsan soon names Robert Darzac, Ms. Stangerson's fiance, as his primary suspect. Having already ruled Darzac out, Roulebatille begins to grow suspicious when the man is arrested and seems hesitant to defend himself. Working behind the scenes, the unassuming sleuth must race against time to prove Darzac's innocence and stop Ms. Stangerson's attacker from finishing what he started. The Mystery of the Yellow Room is a story of danger and suspense from one of history's finest detective novelists. Joseph Rouletabille is without a doubt France's answer to Sherlock Holmes. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Gaston Leroux's The Mystery of the Yellow Room is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Phantom of the Opera is Gaston Leroux's exquisite blend of Gothic horror and tragic romance, which formed the basis for a world-renowned stage musical. This Penguin Classics edition is translated with notes by Mireille Ribiere, and an introduction by Jann Matlock. When the new managers of the Paris Opera House ignore their predecessors' warnings about the hideous 'Opera ghost' stalking the theatre, it is a fatal mistake. The Phantom haunts the imagination of the beautiful and talented singer Christine Daae, appearing to her as the 'Angel of Music' - a disembodied voice, coaching her to sing as she never could before. When Christine is courted by a handsome young Viscount, the Phantom is consumed by jealousy and seeks revenge. And when Christine suddenly disappears after a triumphant singing performance, it becomes clear that the Phantom's time has come. With its pervading atmosphere of menace, tinged with dark humour, The Phantom of the Opera (1910) has inspired film, stage and literature since its publication, including Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, the most successful theatrical show of all time. Mireille Ribiere's highly readable and historically accurate translation captures the drive and drama of Leroux's vivid tale, and is accompanied by extensive notes and further reading. Jann Matlock's fascinating new introduction examines the Phantom's legacy and uncovers the real secrets hidden in the Paris Opera House. Gaston Leroux (1868-1927) was born in Paris, the son of a building contractor. His first novel was serialised in the late 1890s, and with the 1907 publication of The Mystery of the Yellow Room he launched his career as a pioneer of the French detective novel. The Phantom of the Opera (1910) has been Leroux's best-known novel in the English-speaking world ever since the resounding success of the 1925 silent film version. If you enjoyed The Phantom of the Opera, you might like Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, also available in Penguin Classics.

Taking classic stories from Asia and the West, Pop! Lit for Kids reimagines them into easy-to-read stories that provide the perfect introduction to classic tales. The most well-loved stories from around the world have been adapted into a form that will excite and entertain children everywhere.

The Perfume of the Lady in Black (1908) is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. The Perfume of the Lady in Black marked the second appearance of popular character Joseph Rouletabille, a reporter and part-time sleuth who features in several of Leroux's novels. Originally a journalist, Leroux turned to fiction after reading the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe. Often considered one of the best mysteries of all time, the novel has been adapted several times for film. Joseph Rouletabille is more than meets the eye. A reporter by profession, he spends his free time working as an amateur detective, using his journalistic talents to compile facts and track down leads. In The Mystery of the Yellow Room, he saved the life of Mathilde Stangerson, the daughter of a prominent professor, from the clutches of Ballmeyer, a violent criminal mastermind gifted in the art of disguise. Unbeknownst to her father, Mathilde had married Ballmeyer while living in America before realizing he had been living under a false identity. Now believed to be dead, Ballmeyer fades into history as Rouletabille, his assistant Sainclair, and Mathilde return to their lives. Shortly after leaving for her honeymoon with Robert Darzac, however, Mathilde contacts Rouletabille with terrifying news-their common enemy seems to have returned. The Perfume of the Lady in Black is a story of mystery and suspense from one of history's finest detective novelists. Joseph Rouletabille is without a doubt France's answer to Sherlock Holmes. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Gaston Leroux's The Perfume of the Lady in Black is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

"The story of the monster man whose horrible deformities cause fear and terror, his search for love and acceptance, and his haunting of the opera house in Paris is told in very simple language. Beautifully adapted, the story flows along so easily that readers will be immediately caught up in the tangle of events and emotions. McMullan conveys all of the anger, grief, joy, and love that make the phantom a truly believable character. Will attract reluctant readers."--School Library Journal.  


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Discover the classic Gothic horror novel of haunted cellars, opera, murder and unrequited love that inspired Andrew Lloyd Webber's long-running west end hit. Christine is a beautiful young singer at the Paris Opera. She is watched by the Opera's 'phantom' - a mysterious masked figure who terrorises the Opera's management and players. With the Phantom's help, Christine rises to become the Opera's star performer, but when the Phantom demands her heart in return, Christine is torn between gratitude and pity for her strange benefactor, and love for her childhood sweetheart, Raoul.

The Phantom of the Opera lives under a famous opera house. A mere chorus girl, Christine Daae, becomes, under his guidance, a well known singer with a beautiful voice. But her old child hood sweetheart, the Vicount Raoul de Changy, has also entered the picture. The past comes back to haunt her, the future ahead is uncertain, and the present is undecided. Who will win the heart of Christine?; the handsome, rich Raoul or the masked Angel of Music? A story of romance, murder, sacrifice and sadness, this riveting, seductive tale will keep your emotions high until the very last page of the shocking conclusion.

On September 23, 1909, the Parisian daily newspaper, Le Gaulois, published its first installment of Gaston Leroux's Le Fantome de l'Opera (The Phantom of the Opera). This type of serialized publication, in France called a "feuilleton," was common from the middle of the 19th century through the beginning of the 20th century. Many authors of the day published their novels section by section in newspapers to gain readership and to work out ideas before the publication of the first edition. Between the newspaper printing and the first edition, it was common for chapters to be added, rewritten, or removed as part of the editing process. In the feuilleton of Le Fantome de l'Opera, Gaston Leroux wrote a chapter called "L'enveloppe magique" ("The Magic Envelope"). Leroux decided to omit this chapter from his first edition, and so it only appeared in Le Gaulois. Since the feuilleton has never been translated, few people apart from the most dedicated Phantom enthusiasts are familiar with this lost chapter. For the first time, the text of "The Magic Envelope" has been translated into English so that fans of The Phantom of the Opera can read this forgotten gem. This chapter provides explanations for several enigmas that have puzzled readers since Leroux's first edition, and it offers a fascinating glimpse into the writing process of one of France's literary icons.

The Phantom of the Opera (1910) is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. Originally serialized in Le Galois, the novel was inspired by legends revolving around the Paris Opera from the early nineteenth century. Originally a journalist, Leroux turned to fiction after reading the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe. Despite its lack of success relative to Leroux's other novels, The Phantom of the Opera has become legendary through several adaptations for film, theater, and television, including Andrew Lloyd Webber's celebrated 1886 Broadway musical of the same name. In 1880s Paris, the legendary Palais Garnier Opera House is rumored to be haunted by a malignant entity. Known as the Phantom of the Opera, he has been linked to the hanging death of a stagehand in addition to several strange and mysterious occurrences. Just before a gala performance, a young Swedish soprano named Christine is called on to replace the opera's lead, who is suffering from a last-minute illness. From the audience, the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny recognizes Christine, his childhood sweetheart, and goes backstage after the opera has ended to reintroduce himself. While waiting by her dressing room, he hears her talking to an unknown man, but upon entering finds himself alone with Christine. Pressing her for information, she reveals that she has been receiving lessons from a figure she calls the Angel of Music, prompting suspicion and terror in Raoul, who is familiar with the legend of the Phantom. As Raoul makes his feelings for Christine known, the Phantom professes his love for his protege, and a battle for her affection ensues. Caught in this love triangle, threatened on all sides by jealousy and pursuit, Christine struggles to hold on as her star in the Paris Opera rises. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.