The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera, or Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, is novel by French author Gaston Leroux. It was first published in a serialized form, then was released as a book in 1910. It is the classic story of Christine Daae, an opera singer who is coached in her singing by a mysterious voice emanating from the walls of her room. It is set in the Paris Opera house, and like the novel Dracula, is a collection of supposed news clippings and police reports. There is also the dashing nobelman Raoul de Chagney,who is also in love with her...but the thrilling mystery kicks in… when the voice says she's to love only it! Gaston Leroux was born in Paris in 1868.

He was a lawyer who at one point inherited millions of francs, which he spent like a maniac until he went bankrupt. Later he'd becomes a court reporter and theater critic for L'Écho de Paris. He'd cover the Russian Revolution in 1905, and later the former Paris Opera, which was discovered to contain a secret jail for prisoners of the Paris Commune, a communist group. During his investigation he became captivated and thrilled by the old Opera, and when he left journalism in 1907, the setting would form the backdrop for his most famous story. The Phantom of the Opera is best known as the 1925 film version or Andrew Lloyd Webber's massively popular 1986 musical, but Leroux's classic thriller is a great read.