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).

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.

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.

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.

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 (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.

The Adventures of Joseph Rouletabille (2021) is a trilogy of novels by French writer Gaston Leroux. Originally a journalist, Leroux turned to fiction after reading the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe. This collection compiles the first three novels in his series featuring Joseph Rouletabille, a reporter and amateur detective whose crime solving abilities gain him a reputation throughout Europe. 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, a young heiress is found beaten within an inch of her life in a room locked from the inside. When Frederic Larsan, France's top detective, unexpectedly solves the case, Rouletabaille grows suspicious. In The Perfume of the Lady in Black, Rouletabille is shaken by the return of criminal mastermind Ballmeyer, an enemy he 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 Adventures of Joseph Rouletabille is an action-packed trilogy of novels featuring revolution, murder, romance, and endless suspense. 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 Adventures of Joseph Rouletabille is a classic of French detective fiction reimagined for modern readers.

The Adventures of Joseph Rouletabille (2021) is a trilogy of novels by French writer Gaston Leroux. Originally a journalist, Leroux turned to fiction after reading the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe. This collection compiles the first three novels in his series featuring Joseph Rouletabille, a reporter and amateur detective whose crime solving abilities gain him a reputation throughout Europe. 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, a young heiress is found beaten within an inch of her life in a room locked from the inside. When Frederic Larsan, France's top detective, unexpectedly solves the case, Rouletabaille grows suspicious. In The Perfume of the Lady in Black, Rouletabille is shaken by the return of criminal mastermind Ballmeyer, an enemy he 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 Adventures of Joseph Rouletabille is an action-packed trilogy of novels featuring revolution, murder, romance, and endless suspense. 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 Adventures of Joseph Rouletabille is a classic of French detective fiction 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.

The Man With the Black Feather (1909) is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. Originally a journalist, Leroux turned to fiction after reading the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe. His most famous work, 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. Walking into his office one morning, a journalist discovers a stranger waiting there for him. Holding an ornate wooden box, he reveals himself to be the executor of M. Theophraste Longuet, a deceased manufacturer and a former acquaintance of the journalist. Suspicious at first, the journalist accepts the box, opening it to reveal the voluminous memoirs of Longuet. Within their pages, presumably unread by anyone else, Longuet describes his discovery of documents revealing that he is, in fact, the reincarnation of infamous French highwayman Louis Dominique Cartouche, a vigilante figure who haunted the roads of 18th century France in order to steal from the rich and give their wealth to the poor. Skeptical, the journalist reads the memoirs, which lead him to the legendary "Treasure of Cartouche," virtually ensuring the accuracy of Longuet's claims. Assured of their worth to the public, the journalist convinces his editors to release their discovery to the world. The Man With the Black Feather, which is also known by the title The Double Life, is a mystery novel by Gaston Leroux, one of the leading French detective writers of his generation. Like much of Leroux's work, the novel is partly based on historical events-Cartouche was an actual figure whose campaign of thievery and charity came to an abrupt end with his brutal public execution in 1721. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Gaston Leroux's The Man With the Black Feather 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.

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 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.

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.

LARGE PRINT EDITION. 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.

Reporter and amateur detective Joseph Rouletabille succeeds where no one else can. Called to the court of Tsar Nicholas II, he accepts an assignment to protect a group of influential generals from a suspected assassin. In Russia, Rouletabille is caught up in an atmosphere of violence, mystery, and revolution. The Secret of the Night is a novel by Gaston Leroux.

Reporter and amateur detective Joseph Rouletabille is called to the Château du Glandier. A young heiress has been found beaten within an inch of her life in a room locked from the inside. When Frédéric Larsan, France's top detective, unexpectedly solves the case, Rouletabaille grows suspicious. The Mystery of the Yellow Room is a novel by Gaston Leroux.

Gaston Leroux's classic tale of tragedy, grand opera, romance and horror has been masterfully adapted by Ken Hill, the author of Mummy's Tomb and The Curse of the Werewolf, into a musical play which preserves all of the excitement and passion of the much-loved original, underscored by a strong current of comedy as well. The Phantom, born with a monstrously disfigured face but the voice of an angel, haunts the Paris Opera House and falls in love with Christine, a young chorus girl. He terrorizes the management in order to further Christine's career, while preying upon her childlike innocence to force her to love him in return. But Raoul, Christine's true love, intends to fight for her to the end...9 women, 13 men

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.

The Man With the Black Feather (1909) is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. Originally a journalist, Leroux turned to fiction after reading the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe. His most famous work, 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. Walking into his office one morning, a journalist discovers a stranger waiting there for him. Holding an ornate wooden box, he reveals himself to be the executor of M. Théophraste Longuet, a deceased manufacturer and a former acquaintance of the journalist. Suspicious at first, the journalist accepts the box, opening it to reveal the voluminous memoirs of Longuet. Within their pages, presumably unread by anyone else, Longuet describes his discovery of documents revealing that he is, in fact, the reincarnation of infamous French highwayman Louis Dominique Cartouche, a vigilante figure who haunted the roads of 18th century France in order to steal from the rich and give their wealth to the poor. Skeptical, the journalist reads the memoirs, which lead him to the legendary “Treasure of Cartouche,� virtually ensuring the accuracy of Longuet’s claims. Assured of their worth to the public, the journalist convinces his editors to release their discovery to the world. The Man With the Black Feather, which is also known by the title The Double Life, is a mystery novel by Gaston Leroux, one of the leading French detective writers of his generation. Like much of Leroux’s work, the novel is partly based on historical events—Cartouche was an actual figure whose campaign of thievery and charity came to an abrupt end with his brutal public execution in 1721. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Gaston Leroux’s The Man With the Black Feather is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

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 protégé, 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.