Gaston Leroux is one of the originators of the detective novel, and The Phantom of the Opera is his tour de force. A superb suspense story and dark tale of obsession, The Phantom of the Opera has thrilled and entertained audiences in adaptations throughout the century. His tale recounts the story of Erik, a disfigured musical genius who haunts the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera, waging a reign of terror over its occupants. When Erik falls fatally in love with the lovely Christine, he devotes himself to creating a new star for the Opera, exerting a strange sense of control over the young soprano as he nurtures her extraordinary talents. The Phantom of the Opera takes us into the darkest regions of the human heart. Leroux has created a masterwork of love and murder—and a tragic figure that awakens our deepest and most forbidden fears.

GASTON LEROUX (1868-1927) Gaston Leroux was a French journalist and author of detective novels. He is best known for writing The Phantom of the Opera, which has been made into several film and stage productions. In addition, his The Mystery of the Yellow Room is one of the most beloved “locked room” mysteries ever written.