Gaston LeRoux

Book Excerpt: acute; de la grande lampe que tenait la concierge, nous avons tout vu du premier coup d'oeil. Mademoiselle, dans sa chemise de nuit, tait par terre, au milieu d'un d sordre incroyable. Tables et chaises avaient t renvers es montrant qu'il y avait eu l une s rieuse batterie. On avait certainement arrach mademoiselle de son lit; elle tait pleine de sang avec des marques d'ongles terribles au cou -- la chair du cou avait t quasi arrach e par les ongles -- et un trou la tempe droite par lequel coulait un filet de sang qui avait fait une petite mare sur le plancher. Quand M. Stangerson aper ut sa fille dans un pareil tat, il se pr cipita sur elle en poussant un cri de d sespoir que a faisait piti entendre. Il constata que la malheureuse respirait encore et ne s'occupa que d'elle. Quant nous, nous cherchi

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 Daaé, 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 Ribière'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.

'I am not an angel nor a genie nor a ghost...I am Erik!' A mysterious Phantom haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House where he has fallen passionately in love with the beautiful singer Christine Daaé. Under his guidance her singing rises to new heights and she is triumphantly acclaimed. But Christine is also loved by Raoul de Chagny, and by returning his love she makes the fiend she knows as the Angel of Music mad with jealousy. When the Phantom is finally unmasked, will Christine see beyond his hideous disfigurement? The twists and turns of Leroux's thrilling story have captivated readers since its very first appearance in 1910, and its outlines are known to many more who have seen it on stage or film. This new translation is as full-blooded and sensational as the original. David Coward's introduction tells the fascinating story of the novel's genesis, and his thorough notes further illuminate details of the narrative. Christine's plight, the fate of Erik, and the redemptive power of love make an unforgettable novel. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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Filled with the spectacle of the Paris Opera House in the nineteenth century, this classic work of suspense remains a riveting journey into the dark regions of the human heart. The tale begins as an investigation into the strange stories of an "Opera ghost," legendary for scaring performers as they sit alone in their dressing rooms or walk along the building's labyrinthine corridors. Some even think they've seen the ghost in evening clothes moving in the shadows. But it isn't until the triumphant performance of beautiful soprano Christine Daa that the Phantom begins his attacks--striking terror in the hearts of everyone in the theater. A story that has captured the imagination for a century, The Phantom of the Opera continues to this day as an unparalleled work of sheer entertainment. With an Introduction by Dr. John L. Flynnand an Afterword by J.R. Ward