Gaston Louis Alfred Leroux (1868-1927) was a French journalist and author of detective fiction. In the English-speaking world, he is best known for writing the novel "The Phantom of the Opera" (1910).

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.

"The Phantom of the Opera" is the most famous work of French author Gaston Leroux. Far darker than the stories familiar to audiences of today from the phenomenally successful Broadway musical and the early Lon Chaney, Jr. film, Leroux's "Fantom" is a genuine murderer, and the story, a true Gothic murder/horror tale. Erik, the Phantom of the Opera, terrorizes the Opera Garnier (or Paris Opera House) by a successful multi-year blackmail plot. When new owners take over the Opera, Erik's reign of terror is abruptly curtailed. With this threat to his formerly comfortable living, and his budding, if bizarre relationship with the lovely soprano Christine Daee, coming to a halt, Erik takes drastic and murderous action. More complex, and far darker than the Broadway musical and film, some have criticized Leroux's novel for its deliberate Nineteenth century pace, and its talkiness. Others have found it fascinating and absorbing reading, with depths not to be found in the later, extraordinarily popular adaptations.

Experience for yourself the classic story of love, music, and murder which has captivated people for generations. When new managers take over the running of the Paris Opera House, they make light of warnings about a mysterious ghost who haunts the theater. But this Phantom is all too real, and attempts to ignore his demands have dangerous consequences. When a beautiful young singer becomes the object of fascination by both the Phantom and a handsome viscount, disaster is inevitable. Leroux's story, which he claims to have based on real events, has provided the basis for many adaptations on stage and screen. It is a thrilling and atmospheric novel which should not be missed.

Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - The Opera ghost really existed. He was not, as was long believed, a creature of the imagination of the artists, the superstition of the managers, or a product of the absurd and impressionable brains of the young ladies of the ballet, their mothers, the box-keepers, the cloak-room attendants or the concierge. Yes, he existed in flesh and blood, although he assumed the complete appearance of a real phantom; that is to say, of a spectral shade. When I began to ransack the archives of the National Academy of Music I was at once struck by the surprising coincidences between the phenomena ascribed to the "ghost" and the most extraordinary and fantastic tragedy that ever excited the Paris upper classes; and I soon conceived the idea that this tragedy might reasonably be explained by the phenomena in question. The events do not date more than thirty years back; and it would not be difficult to find at the present day, in the foyer of the ballet, old men of the highest respectability, men upon whose word one could absolutely rely, who would remember as though they happened yesterday the mysterious and dramatic conditions that attended the kidnapping of Christine Daae, the disappearance of the Vicomte de Chagny and the death of his elder brother, Count Philippe, whose body was found on the bank of the lake that exists in the lower cellars of the Opera on the Rue-Scribe side. But none of those witnesses had until that day thought that there was any reason for connecting the more or less legendary figure of the Opera ghost with that terrible story.

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 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.

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.

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 Secret of the Night (1913) is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. The Secret of the Night marked the third 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 mystery writers of all time, Leroux's novel has been adapted countless 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. 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. In The Perfume of the Lady in Black, Rouletabille is shaken by the return of an enemy he had believed was dead. The Secret of the Night finds Leroux's hero in Russia on assignment for a French newspaper. While there, he is summoned to the palace of Tsar Nicholas II, who wishes to employ him in his capacity as a detective in order to foil a plot against his generals. The Secret of the Night is a story of revolution, murder, 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 Secret of the Night is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.