The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel | Gaston Leroux

The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel | Gaston Leroux | A Masterpiece That Is Still Popular A Century Later

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The Phantom of the...

	The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel Gaston Leroux Harper Perennial, 1988 - 368 pages average customer review:based on 215 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Bittersweet and Beautiful

I am one of the many people whose first encounter with Phantom of the Opera was the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. It was the most inspiring production I have ever seen, and I fell in love with Phantom immediately. At first, I was mainly interested in this original novel because of the play, sort of as "research" into the background of the stage production I loved so much. My interst was not in the book itself. In the end, however, I found out that it was a great work of literature by itself, truly worthy of being called a classic, and deserving higher recognition.

In the book, much more than in the musical and other adaptions, Erik the Phantom, is someone the reader can, at first, truly loath. His more tender side isn't shown until the very end, making you almost guilty that you ever passed him off as a sadistic murderer. All he ever wanted was to be normal: to have a normal life, a normal home, and a wife, like an ordinary man. Moreover, he could have become a quite a distinguished figure in society for his architectural and musical acheivements, if he were anything close to "normal". And yet this would never happen: his face was so deformed that he couldn't be anything other than a social outcast, hiding in the underground labyrinths of the Paris Opera House.

When Erik falls in love with a young and beautiful singer, Christine Daae, he is driven mad by the fact that she could never love him because of his face, and resorts to insane methods to make her "love" him. Unfortunately for Erik, she already has a lover, the young Raoul de Chagny,who is generally clueless as to the degree of Erik's passion, and his utter, dangerous genius. Much of the story revolves around this bizarre love triangle. Then there is a whole sub-plot involving the (somewhat humorous)dealings of the Opera managers and the Ghost, and the latter's pranks against them and their business.

If you read this novel, prepare to be drawn into a whole new and complex world--that of the Paris Opera house. When I read it, I was struck by the vivid descriptions of the building itself--its enormous size and rich architecture. It creates this sort of cut-off-from-the-world feeling. It is partly this feeling that makes the story so appealing.

Phantom of the Opera is written in a very matter-of-fact manner, almost like a newspaper article, with 'interviews' and 'narratives'. The author starts the story by stating that "The Opera Ghost really existed". By the end, you are left wondering if perhaps this IS a true story, or at least if Gaston Leroux really believed it was. This is another of the book's appealing qualities. Of course, it is also quite well written, exciting (although it would be wrong to call it constant flat-out action)and just...classic. In short, everyone should read Phantom of the Opera before they die...and prepare to be enchanted by the rich plot and unique characters.

Just as an aside, I also strongly recommend the 2004 movie(with Emmy Rossum as Christine and Gerard Butler as the Phantom). It is a well filmed, well acted, and really quite heartbreaking representation of the musical. It never fails to make me cry at the end!

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A Masterpiece That Is Still Popular A Century Later

From the very beginning of the book, Leroux masterly pulls the reader into the plot. Through the dialogue of minor characters, the petite ballerinas, the reader learns of the terrible, ugly Opera Ghost who has been making unexpected appearances in the hall of the Paris Opera for the past couple of months.
When Leroux introduces the major characters, Christine and Raoul, he further enhances the persona of the controversial Opera Ghost. While through the eyes of the petite ballerinas the Opera Ghost was nothing short of a menace, through the eyes of Christine and Raoul we learn the real story of the ghost-a disfigured but talented man, who is never really accepted by society.
Through his meetings with Christine, the Opera Ghost shows himself to have quite humane emotions, like compassion, sincerity, and love. Ultimately, the Opera Ghost also earns the reader's sympathy. He lacks the good looks, so he uses the only thing he has-his beautiful voice-to infatuate Christine. Nevertheless, when the Opera Ghost doubts Christine and her love for him, he again turns threatening.
Through various intervening passages, the Ghost gains a symbolic meaning. His role of the outcast of the exclusive Parisian society of the 1870s, sharply counteracts the role of his rival Raoul, who is the ideal Prince Charming from the high ranks of society.
Overall, the book is well written. Leroux's style of writing is very interesting. To depict the Opera Ghost in a variety of ways, he often switches narratives between the inhabitants of the Opera. After reading all of those vivid descriptions, it is hard to doubt Leroux's pledge that the Ghost really existed. However, the reader is the ultimate judge.

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a wonderful love story, fall under the spell of an angel of music!

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 the absurd and impressionable brains of the young ladies of the ballet, their mothers, the box-keepers, the cloak room attendants, or the concierge.

The Phantom of the Opera is one of the better books I've read. It's a very interesting memoir, about an opera house, and a mysterious man who haunts it, known as the opera ghost. The tale is also about a man in love, and after a new soloist in the opera. The book is full of twists and surprises especially during the end. It never leaves you confused about something, or bored. This book is recommended for people who like memoirs, and suspense. It's for someone who likes romance novels, or stories about love and a bit of obsession. It's a very pretty story maybe a little depressing.

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#1 Phantom Phan

I adored this book, absolutely loved it, I finished it the day i got it. I have been a phantom phan for about two years now and thought i might catch up on whats been going on. I saw the movie recently and from then on have done as much research as possible on the topic. I got this book to complete my poto library. I would really recommend this book to any one who is a die hard phantom phan.

My number one book!!!!

Phantom of the Opera has been my life since I was little. My aunt introduced me to it by taking me to see the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, which was spectacular. Since then I have been in love with the dark story between a naive singer and an opera ghost. This book contains so many genres. It has romance, mystery, horror, and a little bit of comedy (not much). The story of the Phantom and his beloved Christine Daae will sure to win your heart...for who can resist the Phantom's voice? This book is a must read!!!

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