Name: The Phantom of the Opera
Author: Gaston Leroux
ISBN: 9780191623806

The Phantom of the Opera

Gaston Leroux

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Author Description

'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.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

A disfigured musical genius haunts the Paris Opera House, manipulating the career of a young soprano while descending into a lethal obsession. Christine Daaé, a rising star at the Opéra Garnier, finds herself caught between the spectral influence of her mysterious mentor, Erik, and the affections of her childhood friend, Raoul de Chagny. Erik, who resides in the subterranean labyrinth beneath the theater, utilizes his architectural knowledge and musical mastery to exert control over the opera's management and Christine's professional trajectory. The narrative employs a journalistic framework, with the narrator investigating the historical veracity of the Phantom's existence through interviews and recovered documents. As Erik's jealousy intensifies, the physical constraints of the opera house—its trapdoors, hidden passages, and locked rooms—become the stage for a high-stakes conflict between artistic devotion and possessive madness.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Epistolary elements including letters, police reports, and witness testimonies
Gothic atmosphere emphasizing the contrast between the opulent stage and the decaying catacombs
Exploration of the duality between aesthetic beauty and physical deformity
Pacing that shifts from theatrical intrigue to claustrophobic suspense
Use of the 'locked room' mystery trope within the opera house setting
Psychological examination of social isolation and obsession
Detailed descriptions of 19th-century operatic production and architecture
Thematic focus on the redemptive potential of human compassion

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Readers and critics frequently note the novel's blend of sensationalist melodrama and meticulous architectural detail. Discussion often centers on the complex characterization of Erik, who oscillates between a sympathetic victim of societal cruelty and a dangerous, manipulative antagonist. The pacing is often described as deliberate, building tension through the atmospheric exploration of the opera house's hidden depths. Many highlight the effectiveness of the journalistic narrative style in grounding the more fantastical elements of the plot in a sense of historical reality. The work remains a primary reference point for discussions regarding the intersection of obsession, art, and the grotesque in classic literature.

Page Count:
320

Publication Date:
2012-01-01

Publisher:
Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:
0191623806

ISBN-13:
9780191623806

Young Adult

Mystery

Thriller

Horror

Romance

Fiction

Music