Product Description
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. The novel that inspired the Lon Chaney film and the hit musical. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (110)

One of the Best Books I have Ever Read
I am 13 an avid reader and the classics are my favorite kind of books to read. So my Language Arts teacher recommended I do the advanced reading challenged and to my delight I found that the Phantom of the Opera was a book I was allowed to read having loved the movie and fallen in love with the musical I went to the nearest bookstore and bought a copy. It was fascinatingI flew through it.was able to unerstand it and I just loved every bit of it. Having read Jane Eyre, Three Musketeers, and Count of Monte Cristo, I was used to the old writting. The book was amazing and the Phantom and Christine have stolen my heart again. Although, I have always said that Christine should have stayed with the Phantom, sure, he did kill a few people and terrify her but he really did love her and Raoul just wanted to protect her and blah, blah, blah. But still it was an amzing book and I recommend it to all the classic lovers no doubt.

Not like the movie at all
I have tried to read this book before but just couldn't get into it.It is funny that getting it as a free download on the Kindle finally opens it up and makes it accessible in a way that I couldn't put it down.It feels a bit dated in places because it is very arch and melodramatic at times, but the Phantom is such an amazing and deeply felt character that it is very much worth reading if you have not.Four stars.

The Original - It's Not the Bible
Well, I've been accused of never having read Gaston Leroux's original work nor heard of Jerrold E. Hogle's literary dissection of the original work.Funny...this is the copy that I purchased and have highlighted, written inside, and dissected to death.Nevertheless, I'll move on from that comment left in the review of my own work.

So Gaston Leroux!This is where it all began - the story of the Opera Ghost.Much different in many ways, yet similar too, of Webber's adaptation.I personally don't count the story to be absolute truth, because Leroux was a fiction writer, who I believe used his profession to weave a tale he wished us all to believe was truth. Don't forget, he lived in a time when being an illusionist was quite the thing!Even authors made illusions they wanted their readers to believe was truth.Nevertheless, it's a tale with a timeless message of wanting to be loved in spite of our looks and not-so-perfect personalities.We relate to the Opera Ghost on many levels.

The story, if you dig deep enough, is riddled with symbolism.The writing itself, is probably not as totally enjoyable in English as it may be in the original French tongue.I don't consider Leroux to be the most fantastic author I've ever read, but I do consider his story to be one that will never die because its message is poignant from generation to generation.

Its characters are different in many ways too.Erik seems to be more of a madman, Christine - well, is Christine - the tough nut to crack who manipulates two men to her advantage and tells hideous lies to the monster to buy her freedom.Raoul is quite the crying emotional young man, who I'd say is a little obsessed with his little Lotte.The remainder of the characters are there for our enjoyment as well.

It's a great story, which has subsequently been rewritten and adapted a hundred times, if not more.Even I'm guilty of it.

I will say, I did enjoy Anne Perry's introduction, which is more on the humanity side rather than on the literary side such as Hogle's interpretations in the back.I tend to lean toward what we can learn from the story as human beings, and not what can bore me in a classroom setting.After all, it's the heart of the story that touches us more deeply on the simple elementary elements that we all relate to and understand.It's the emotions, longings, passions, and the characters that keep us coming back time and time again to anything Phantom.Frankly, I'd rather be an amateur with a heart.Otherwise, it just shows I really don't understand the underlying message of the story at all.

4.5 stars; this edition has some formatting issues but the story itself is wonderful
I love the musical but had never read this book before.So I downloaded it to my Kindle for free.The formatting was okay on the Kindle version; chapter starts were a bit hard to see and there were some formatting errors. All of the color plates were missing with an insert stating (color plate here).Overall the story itself was wonderful and really added to my understanding of the musical.

I think just about everyone should be familiar with this story.It is the story of an Opera Ghost who is mentoring Christine Daae to become a great opera singer.Of course when the Opera Ghost's wishes are not met by the new managers who run the opera house a series of disasters befall the opera company.Christine becomes increasingly entangled with the Opera Ghost and her childhood sweetheart, Raoul, tries his best to save her.

The book starts out a bit slow.It is told from the point of view of an investigator who is trying to piece together the whole story behind the Phantom of the Opera.Things really pick up as the Opera Ghost starts to torment people and Christine and Raoul start their false engagement.

My favorite part was the last third of the book when Raoul and the Persian are trying to navigate the area beneath the theater.

This book fills out some major parts of the story that you don't get in the musical.There is a lot more background on Raoul and Christine's childhood.More time is spent explaining the past of the Opera Ghost, Eric, and what made him the way he is.At the very end the investigator details how all of the ghostly things that happened in the story were done.Also the scenes under the opera house are much more vicious, involving a incredibly unique torture chamber, threats to flatten a few blocks of Paris, and more.

I was surprised at how engaging the writing style was.This was not a tough book to read at all, it was incredibly engaging and easy to read.There is a sly sense of humor in parts of the book and I found myself laughing out loud a couple times.I really enjoyed it.

My only complaint (and my husband's complaint) is that I kept humming parts of the musical as I read the book!If you are a fan of The Phantom and the Opera musical definitely check out this book; it makes parts of the musical make a lot more sense.It is much more interesting and creative and engaging than the musical too!The first third of the book is kind of slow but if you can make it though that, the rest of the book is definitely worth it!

The Dark side

Not as good as the play, this film nvbertheless is mostly well done. The music is excellent, Bulter needs to work on his singing but the point is how we treat people who look different then most of us and the tragic need for love that goes unforfulled. The legths one can and will go to get love only to watch it go away.We can relate to this film and all the characters, yet I think most relate to the Phantom most often. We all, in our wa, face what he faces in our lives, we kno how he feels. I wish they has left the music as they did it in the play as it added so much more to the play then the movie. ... Read more

Product Description
The Secret of the Night is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Gaston Leroux is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Gaston Leroux then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Finally, a clean, attractive edition.
The Secret of the Night, the third in Gaston Leroux's mysteries featuring the memorable reporter and amateur sleuth Joseph Rouletabille, is a marvelous read; however, until now, until I purchased this edition published by Aegypan, I couldn't find a decent version, as the copies I'd come across were seemingly pulled straight from the free-text available on the internet, and were, therefore, chock-full of mistakes.

In many quarters this story isn't as highly-rated as its literary siblings, The Mystery of the Yellow Room, which is generally considered the first and the finest of the "locked-room" mysteries, and its sequel, The Perfume of the Lady in Black; but, in my opinion, The Secret of the Night is so much more than merely a worthy follow-up to its noted predecessors, it is in every way their equal.

Like most of Boris Akunin's best-selling mysteries featuring Erast Fandorin, The Secret of the Night takes place in Tsarist Russia and includes plenty of interesting and intricate plot twists and action, enough to hook even the most jaded of readers. And in the person of the amazing Joseph Rouletabille, The Secret of the Night can boast of a detective every bit as admirable and perspicacious.

Boris Akunin's inventive modern-day mysteries are extremely popular and rightly so (truth is, I read them just as fast they come to market!); but Gaston Leroux wrote his first, long ago, and just as well!Check them out for yourself and you'll see...

The Mystery Of The Yellow Room: Extraordinary Adventures Of Joseph Rouletabille, Reporter

The Perfume of the Lady in Black (Sequel to Mystery of the Yellow Room)

Secret Of The Night
Though not one of Leroux's best works, 'The Secret Of The Night,' is a stunning novel. I myself own one of the rare copies of 'Secret' as well as 'Myster of the Yellow Room,' and hopefully someday, 'Phantom.' In the bookLeroux focuses upon a detective in Russia partly resembleing InspectorDuPon (Poe) and Sherlock Holmes (Conan Doyal). A 4 star book. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Absolutely Fantastic and Bizarre
This is quite a wordy book but it is almost impossible to put
down. You have to run do what you have to do then run back and
continue. It,s that fast paced especially towards the middle of
the book. An 18 year old reporter has to figure the whole thing
out and he does a superb job. Of course now I have to find the
other two books of Leroux' to read. I hope he wrote more.
but not too many or otherwise I would never get anything done!

great book for a mystery fan
I read this book not knowing what to expect. I had read many mystery books before this one so I was pretty good at figuring out who the culprit was and how the crime was committed. The Mystery of the Yellow Room was a different story. As I was reading I tried to work out how it was done and who did it but I was stumped and I can guarentee that whoever else reads this book will be stumped as well. Ending is a great twist. This is a great mystery and I also recommend the sequel The Perfume of the Lady in Black. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
This is the original edition of the classic THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. The novel that inspired the Lon Chaney film and the hit musical. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (236)

It was a wonderful book
The book got here quickly and was in excellent condition. The story itself was intriguing and touching.

A Must Read
Gaston Leroux's novel was the basis for both the ALW musical and the super-creepy early 1900s movie (and I think a few others). I have read a lot of criticism that says ALW didn't capture the full book. That's certainly true, but what movie/stage show does? Anyone who saw Half-Blood Prince could attest that a lot gets lost in the translation. Anyway, I am a huge fan of Leroux's book. Dark, creepy, and full of fantastic, frightening imagery, I found myself buried in it, wondering what would happen next. The main thing that comes out for me in the book is Erik's character. He is a perfect symbol for the strange, dark unconscious that lies just beneath the surface of the opera/play we are all acting when we are conscious and deliberate. But Erik exists, surreal, different, a driving force for the action and all creativity. His distorted face is so apt for the dream world in which he lives. The other elements of consciousness, Christine and Raoul, among others, pale in interest and in comparison to him. Raoul in particular is disappointing... but he is sunlight and Erik is shadow. Christine, ultimately, chooses what most of us do - the world of which we can make sense, which we can handle. But I suspect that she always felt a little regret for Erik, and that she had to make that choice rather than be able to reconcile the two. Apparently, ALW felt the same, because of the new sequel to the first musical. It'll be interesting to see where he went with it.

Possibly Thee Best Book EVER!
I started to watch the movie (Andrew lloyd Webber's version) for this at my school, and did not get to finish it. So I went out and bought myself a copy and watched it. I fell in love with it. SO, as any "obsessed" person would, I came on here and ordered the book.

I had completely finished this book cover to cover within 36 hours.

I won't give spoilers but I'm not usually one for love stories. I like action and horror stories. This book combines just about everything in one precious package.
You have love, suspense, horror, and action.

I must also boldly state that I have never ever cried during a movie or a book until The Phantom of the Opera. Leroux wrote this book so powerfully that just about anyone can feel and identify with the Phantom's pain. I know I did.

The only thing I regret about this book is loaning it to my friend, I want to read it again sooo bad.

As for anyone who choses to read this book, I urge you to. Infact, order this now and get the express shipping. You'll read it over and over again and fall under the spell of the dark figure so many people have come to know and love, Erik, The Phantom of the Opera.

Not as good as I remember but still worth reading
Classic tale. Opera singer Christine Daae is coached on how to sing from a mysterious voice in her room at the Paris Opera House.Her singing improves and she falls in love with voice.Raoul de Chagney, a dashing nobleman, is also in love with her...but the voice makes it clear that she is only to love him. The voice turns out to belong to a disfigured madman that wants to possess Christine at all costs.

I read this way back in 1986 and remember loving it.I've read it multiple times since then and still liked it...but this time I'm starting to see some faults.The story itself is kind of sketchy and the POV change so rapidly it's hard to follow.Also some characters are completely unexplained--the Persian especially. It also drags when the Persian gets into Erik's history and Raoul comes off sometimes as a real jerk.Still--more often than not--the book works.Leroux goes into great detail describing the Opera House so you get a real feeling for what it looks like and works.There are many spooky sequences involving the Phantom himself and Leroux makes this (admittedly) far-fetched tale seem possible.Also it's a tragic love story that really works.You feel for the Phantom even though he is a murderer and quite insane.His love for Christine comes pouring off the page in a very believable way.This is no masterpiece if literature.Lerous didn't intend it to be.It's just a quick, fun horror and love story that's become a classic and been redone countless times on the stage and screen.It's kind of fun to read the book and realize what certain characters and events the various versions left out or changed.Recommended.

Gift
It was a gift for my wife. Fast shipping and arrived in great conditions.. My wife says the play is better though. ... Read more

Product Description
Years earlier Erik faked his death and vowed the Phantom would never again haunt the Opera Garnier. But strange packages left by Anna, an unwanted Samaritan turned unlikely friend, cause him to desire the unattainable—love.Battling the nobleman determined to lock him away, Erik must control his demons and tame a heart unexpectedly beating for two opposite women: Christine, who he longs to love, and Anna the woman who saw beyond his bitter soul to the man beneath the mask.In the midst of a brutal manhunt, can he be loved for himself or is he condemned to be The Phantom of the Opera? Murderer, Maestro, Magician, Mastermind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Leroux's Erik lives
"Madrigal" is book 1 of a series based on Gaston Leroux's "The Phantom of the Opera." The story begins several years following Erik's release of Christine and Raoul and his supposed death and burial in the lower levels of the opera house. True to her promise to him, Christine returned to bury Erik and placed his gold band on his finger, but the body that she and Raoul buried wasn't Erik's. Erik remained in his hidden home under the opera house unbeknownst to everyone, or so he thought, until the mysterious packages began to appear. Someone faithfully left the packages of paper, ink, and figs, where only he would find them. When Erik discovers the surprising identity of his secret admirer, he dares to hope that perhaps he has finally found someone who will see him as a man, and love him.

The opera house is now under new management, and struggling financially. In an attempt to revitalize business, the new owners have entered into a dangerous arrangement with a very unscrupulous con man. When they announce plans for a masquerade gala, featuring the return of La Christine, they unknowingly set in motion a series of events that will force Erik and Christine to face their unresolved feelings for each other, and will force Erik to make a difficult choice.

In "Madrigal," the author has captured the spirit of Leroux's Erik. He is mesmerizing, seductive, and sometimes menacing, yet underneath it all he is also sensitive, vulnerable and gentle. If you are looking for a book which not only has an exciting story, but also delves into Erik's mind, I highly recommend this one.

Finished the book feeling sullied for reading it
I read this book with the most hopeful of expectations, having had it recommended by several dear friends. I am a Christian, and I am very careful about what kind of books I read. As in, whether they inspire me to better myself, or turn my mind to darker places. This book, sadly, was the latter for me. Almost immediately there is a profusion of cussing which grows only worse as the book goes on, even including the main female character. Having Anna use such crass language cheapened what was a great character. The entire book is riddled with crude references and sexual innuendo. I almost didn't finish it. I would NOT recommend this book for anyone with any moral values whatsoever. Several parts of the book I found to be very unbelievable, also.

Now, on a good note. The book had excellent pace and great, original characters that I appreciated. This was definitely one of the most intense, fast-paced POTO retellings I've read yet! I also loved how the author developed Erik's character. It was very believable, and she was true to Leroux's Erik, which I appreciated. I give it the two stars simply for the aforementioned reasons.

Not up to GL but better than most published phan phic out there
Ok, let me just start by saying that I think it's really hilarious that this book's subtitle is "A novel of GL's POTO." Every other subtitle like that I've seen has been like "A novel of Richard III" or "A novel of Marie Antoinette." Since GL'S POTO was in itself a novel, this is a really weird subtitle.

Let me continue by saying that I'm going to be slightly harder on this book than maybe is necessary simply because it is claiming to be a continuation of GL's book, with all that it implies. There were two main categories of issues/problems: the historical/literary, and the plot based ones. (And let me wrap up by saying I would actually have given this 2.5 stars if I could have)

Historical & literary problems:
I will preface this by saying that GL's original book is in itself many ways a fairy tale, playing fast and loose with the social conventions of the day for the sake of a good story, so many things I let slide. However, other reviewers have claimed this book follows the style and setting of GL's book, and I just didn't see it. For example:

1. Everyone calling everyone by first names. Near strangers would never have referred to Anna as "Anna." Christine and Raoul wouldn't have introduced themselves as "Christine and Raoul."

2. The plethora of "screw _____" "son-of-a-bitch" and "bastard"s, as well as an alarming number of men thinking about their own erect penises, really took away from whatever feeling there was of this being in the style or manner of GL.

3. On page 142, a character says "Do all Barret's have such audacity?" Lord almighty. Barret is NOT a possessive in that sentence. There should not be an apostrophe there.

Plot/character problems:
1. Anna is just so damn understanding. She understands Erik's past, Erik's anger, Erik's everything, she understands why Raoul is angry, she forgives Erik for stuff she doesn't really seem to understand, she is never once hesitant or cautious or intelligently prudent about being around someone who is a self-admitted madman and murderer. I'm not saying she has to be a wilting daisy, but some sort of common sense prudence from our world-wise protagonist would have made this book a LOT more palatable and realistic.

2. Anna can do everything. Anna can do surgery, Anna can steal, Anna can go kung fu on people, Anna can find her way through labyrinths that no one else can. Anna can also be perfectly brave and self-sacrificing in the face of danger. Anna is a savant.

3. Wow, Christine and Raoul were just completely flat, cardboard, one note, uninteresting, unsympathetic characters. I know GL doesn't give you a ton to work with, but it's like she brought out all the most boring and one-sided aspects of the two. Honestly, they shouldn't have even been brought back. Unnecessary.

4: What happened to the Persian?He was literally mentioned once.No indication of where he went or what happened to him.

---
But all that said, if you've read GL and you've read Kay and you've seen the movies and stage play and you're just itching, desperate, dying for some more POTO stuff, I would certainly recommend this book over Phantom of Manhattan, Progeny, and No Return: A Modern Phantom Tale. Compared to those, this book is frigging Shakespeare.

I know this is a really thorough review for a piece of published phan phiction, but I just happen to be in one of those moods. It happens a couple times a year.

Perfectly enjoyable!
Madrigal: A Novel of Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera by Jennifer Linforth

"My story? I am a murderer. A murderer and a Maestro, a magician and a mastermind. There is nothing in this world I have not mastered, nothing unattainable beyond my grasp. I am a wealthy, powerful genius, with the voice of an angel and the soul of a madman..." --Jennifer Linforth's Phantom

The above quote has got to be my favorite of all in the novel titled Madrigal. Madrigal is the story of the Phantom of the Opera years after Christine had left Erik for Raoul. Small packages of paper, figs, and ink have been left by an anonymous stranger for the Phantom, but who after all these years, and even after faking his own death, would want to reach out to him now?

A man still in love with a woman that wants nothing to do with him, finds love in a woman that is the exact opposite of Christine. Le Fantome, is forced to reappear when the managers of the Opera Garnier make plans for a con. With this con, there will come a lot of trouble, trouble only the real Phantom can control.

Anna knows the man beneath the mask, she knows there is a war raging inside of him, and to her, he is the only man she can see herself loving; even if she has to rate as second best. Anna shows Erik compassion, passion, and a love that she has never been shown herself. A young lady that has been pawned off by her deadbeat con of a father, Anna has suffered the life no lady should have to experience. When Erik reveals his disfigurement to her, Anna is taken aback but only for a moment, she knows the man with golden eyes, she knows his heart, and she will not see him for the monster everyone claims he was, she will see the man, the man Erik longs to be.

Madrigal: A Novel of Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera by Jennifer Linforth is magical, breathtaking, and went well beyond my expectations. I have to admit, I do not know Leroux's novel, or much about the Phantom beyond his disfigurement and his love for Christine, but Ms. Linforth made me realize that I have truly missed a great story! A perfect read for anyone that would like to know what could have been. 5 Hearts

Find Jennifer and Madrigal at: www.Jenniferlinforth.com

Not Horrid
I got my book on Thursday, would have finished on Thursday night but I had four little boys and a little girl interruping me. I didn't find it so weighed down in description in each and every sentence that I forgot what the sentence was about at the end of it.

At times there were words and phrases that would befit an Englishman rather than a Frenchman.

Although there were errors which should have been caught in editing it wasn't so bad it detracted from the story. There were a lot of repetative phrases but I guess there are only so many ways to describe certain things and when you find a phrase that works you stick with it.

All in all I enjoyed the book. I am looking forward to the next book. I suppose it will be furthering the vendetta Raoul has for Erik.

... Read more

Product Description
A French reader for intermediate through advanced students

Le Fantôme de l’Opéra (Leroux) is an adaptation that captures the meaning and mood of the original 1910 Gaston Leroux novel and includes all major scenes. It is 152 pages in length. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

fantome de l'opera
I didnt realise this book was for intermediate french students until it arrived. Serendipitously it was exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to continue my french learning and this book has a chapter by chapter question sheet that helps you read the text and answer questions about the story and descriptive french words. It also has a handy dictionary in the back to help with some of those unknown words.

I also got the book in record time - so thanks Amazon. Very quick sale and would do business again. Cheers.

Great Easy French Read
I read this french book during my fourth semester of high school french. By choice, not as an assignment. I have always loved the story of the phantom of the opera and here was my chance to read it is french! YAY! It's simple to read if you know the basics. Throughout the book there are footnotes that help you along the way. There is also a dictionary in the back of words in the book so it's simple and quick to look up words you don't know. If you undertstand the basic tenses and have a decent vocabulary, you are good to go and you will enjoy this book that is specialy made for students of french. I would say it is just below the petit prince level. So what are you waiting for? Go for it!

Excellent for School
I read this book before my French 5 AP class and found it surprisingly easy to understand.The grammar guides and context questions at the end of each chapter are perfect for class and discussions, and help the reader understand the novel.The novel itself is of course a classic, but it is so much better in French than English, which I read afterwards to see if I had truly gotten the jist of it.I would recommend this book to anyone in intermediate french.

Tre Magnficent!
For those of you that don't understand French, don't try to read this, go for the English version, But I have to say that I loved this book, I don't see why it was so different. (though it was in French) I have six copies of the book in both French and English, and there is always some change, so I can tell you it was a great book, even though some of the wording was different, as it is in most of the others I have. I totally recomend it! I'm only fourteen but I loved this and other classical lit.

Not what I expected
I had to give the book two stars simply because it is in part Gaston Leroux's novel.However, it is not the original.I was terribly disappointed to discover that, far from being the original novel in itsentirety, it is "abridged and adapted especially for intermediatestudents of French."In other words, it was rewritten.The author'sforeword is almost completely gone, retaining only "Le fantome del'Opera a existe.Il a existe en chair et en os." [Please pardon thelack of accents.]The epilogue had vanished, too.I only explored alittle farther, to discover that any sentences or words extra had been cut,even such simple things as "The Persian had seen the poor, unhappyErik for the last time."Now, I can understand that some editing forstudents is necessary (did I mention there are questions at the end of eachchapter?)However, this seems to me to be an extreme and heartlessadaptation, and there was no mention of the alterations in the descriptionof the book.For those who do not have a complete command of the Frenchlanguage and wish to read a novel in that language, fine.However, forPhantom fans who have read every English translation within reach (and ownmost of them), I regretfully suggest that you continue the search, andplease tell me what you find. I wish you good hunting. ... Read more

Product Description
With the Phantom of the Opera Leroux reached the height of his literary powers, and although he developed other fascinating characters, nothing quite matched that one book. He also wrote a small number of really outstanding macabre and weird short stories which are even less well-known and more neglected than his novels-and it is a selection of the best of these which are collected together in this volume. Most of these stories were written in the early 1920s when Leroux's popularity was at its peak, and the demands for his work were never-ending. As a thoroughly professional journalist and a man never afraid of hard work, he did not like refusing requests, and drew on his seemingly bottomless well of ideas for the stories. All are the equal of, if not superior to, most of his longer novels. ... Read more

Product Description
This 19th century French thriller tells of the mysterious Erik, grotesque and elusive "phantom", who hides himself from the world in the labyrinthine bowels of the Paris Opera and entices with his angelic voice the beautiful opera singer Christine. Her abduction prompts a dramatic search not only for her, but also for the truth about her strange captor. ... Read more

Product Description
A shadow of unease; a quickening pulse; an unnamed fear breathing on the collar of those who sit alone in their dressing rooms at the great Paris Opera. An unbearable compulsion to glance quickly over a shoulder in the dark corridors to the stage would sometimes reveal a figure in evening clothes moving softly in the shadows—a figure no one could name. Nothing is done, however, until the disappearance of Christine Daaé during her triumphant performance. With an increasing pattern of fear and violence, the Phantom of the Opera begins to strike but always with a beautiful young performer at the center of his deadly desires. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Phantom of the Opera Book on CD
I do not have much time to sit a read a book, especially a novel. I have to either read items for my work or at night enjoy reflective books on personal growth and challenges.But I do have a 20-30 ride to work each day.During that total hour of drive time, going to work and back home, I enjoy listening to books on CD.My daugther read the book the Phantom of the Opera and said I would enjoy the book on CD.She was right.

Good reading
I love books of CD.I am in my car a great deal and books make the time go faster.I also miss a great deal (gotta pay attn to driving) so I listen over and over until I get it.This book can be complicated so listening more than once was necessary but I like this book very much.

Phantom of the Opera (Unabridged)
I purchased this for from the music section for the Musical Phantom of the Opera.THERE IS NO MUSIC ON IT.It is a person reading the book on the CD's.I expected MUSIC - not someone reading a book. ... Read more

Product Description
This edition of Leroux's "The Phantom of the Opera" is fully annotated, and includes facts, bibliographical information and legends. It also features a full bibliography of works by and about Gaston Leroux, including critical works on "The Phantom of the Opera". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a great book
This book is great! A must have for all phantom phans. ... Read more

Product Description
London: The Bodley Head. Hardcover 1983. 284pp. ISBN 037030568X Red boards lettered in gilt on the spine. - The intention of this anthology is partly historical, but partly too to introduce an English-speaking audience to some Continental writers of detective stories who have been unfairly neglected in this country since the Second World War. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
(Rerecording)

This novel - the classic French detective story - was written in 1907 by Gaston Leroux, once a reporter who covered the famous trials of his time. (He also wrote THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.) Match your wits with his rival detectives - one amateur, one professional - as they try to crack the mystery. Mademoiselle Stangerson retires to bed in the Yellow Room. Suddenly revolver shots echo through the house and she screams for help. Her father and a servant run to the locked room where they find the wounded girl- alone. The only other exit, a window- barred.How had the assailant escaped? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Lots of Fun
This novel was considered by John Dickson Carr to be the best locked room mystery of all time, and I agree its one of the best.Next to the Phantom of the Opera, this is Gaston Leroux's most famous novel, and the one which introduces Joeseph Rouletabille.

Mathilde Strangerson was alone in her room.She had locked her self into the Yellow Room, which was right beside her father's laboratory.The doors were locked and bolted, the windows were bolted, and it was impossible to enter the room.Some how though, and invisible man walked through a locked door and atacked Mathilde.When her father forced open the door, Mathilde lay on the ground, beaten and strangled, and the room was empty.

Before long, the French detective Fredrick Larson had come to solve this mystery.But one person stood in his way.18 reporter-detective Joeseph Rouletabille had also decided to solve this mystery, and would soon uncover a secret bigger then any thing any one ever expected.

far-fetched
The plot of "The Mystery of the Yellow Room" is very clever, but the details of its execution depend on so many "near misses" (whether they be flying bullets or close escapes into the dark) and coincidences that it weakens its impact.Leroux's prose (in translation) is dry, unengaging and unevocative.My guess is that the original French prose was just as dull.It is a chore to get through his admixture of present, past, and past perfect tensesall piled one upon another telegrammatically.Some great eloquent story teller, I believe, could have given the story a rich enjoyable texture rather than leaving it as a barren, almost academic "brain teaser".The characters are only given so much dimension as to fit with the final solution but no other hints of humanity.Some of the motivations are silly indeed: for example, the young detective is willing to allow a second murderous assault on the victim just so he can get a better look at the villain's face!!!By the way, I figured out why the victim would not help the police apprehend her attacker, although I did not discover who he was.She did not know exactly who the attacker was because of a series of contrived situations that prevented her from coming face to face with the attacker despite many possible opportunities.That was really far-fetched!In short, The Mystery of the Yellow Room was a great first draft for a potentially great novel.One final question: If you are chasing a villain and he pulls off his fake beard and wig, do you suddenly have no clue that the person before you is the same one you have just been chasing, especially if he has been out of sight for only seconds?

bye bye to Sherlock Holmes.
This THE best mystery that ever took place in the locked-up room. You are going to like this Rouletabill; he is not a detective, but a journalist!!! He slowly starts to untangle the strings of mystery of the yellow room. You will be drawn into the book by this character made by Leroux, every time Rouletabill finds a clue, every time he puts the pieces together, and every time he attempts to catch the murder. The murder occured in the yellow room is already mysterius, but theres more. This book is full of the starnge happeneings and in the end, they are all explained by no other than Rouletabill, and MAN it felt good!!! I will garantee you will be suprized by the ending of this book, bye bye to Sherlock Holmes, he'll be out of job in no time!!!

An ingenious page-turner
Mlle. Strangerson, the daughter of a famous scientist, is brutally attacked in her bedroom. The window is barred, and the door is double bolted. No one, it seems, could have left the room. However, somehow, he did, leaving strange clues - a bloody imprint of a hand on the wall, a cap, and a hankerchief.
MYSTERY OF THE YELLOW ROOM is pure genius. Leroux winds and twists together meticoulous detail, interesting psychology, and seemingly impossible occurrences that produce a truly enjoyable and schocking finale. This is a wonderful read, and it is great for a rainy day.
MYSTERY OF THE YELLOW ROOM is an extremely influential book, though it is now virtually forgotten. It is one of the first locked-room mysteries, and it inspired Agatha Christie to write her first book.

A Unique Mystery
Leroux's story, in this writer's opinion, truly tops those of Doyle.It's a seemingly impossible case to solve, so complex that a diagram of the house has to be inserted in the book, and the outcome is surprising.Do not be thrown off by Leroux's seemingly clunky writing -- a complaint many have had with his other famous novel "The Phantom of the Opera."Leroux was originally a journalist, and even as an author, found it more comfortable to write his fiction as though they were written by a journalist, perhaps for a newspaper.

There are a couple of odd things that I guess just don't translate into English. One, throughout the entire novel they discuss "the murder of Mmme. Stangerson" -- though in fact it was simply an attempted murder.For many chapters I was trying to figure out how Mmme. Stangerson could be talking if she was murdered.

Also, my diagram seems to be missing a crucial number explaining where one of the windows is.While this is frustrating, it is fully possible to enjoy the novel anyway.I highly recommend this book, whether you're a Leroux fan, a mystery fan, or a fan of early 20th century fiction. ... Read more

Product Description
This book examines the themes and variations of Phantom of the Opera, exploring the story's appeal to multiple generations through numerous incarnations. After discussing Gaston Leroux's original 1910 novel, the work turns first to Phantom on film from Lon Chaney's 1925 Phantom through Dario Argento's 1998 film. Stage versions of Phantom are then covered in detail, including Webber's spectacular 1986 production and its lesser-known predecessors and competitors, and those that followed. A final section looks at novels and miscellaneous adaptations ranging from erotic fiction to a Donald Barthelme short story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Truly dreadful. no zero stars option, Amazon?
This book purports to be a scholarly work, but, as the previous reviewer has noted, it's utterly riddled with errors. The author has apparently not bothered to read some of the books, films and plays she discusses more than once-if at all- and the result is some giant howlers that undermine any crediblity the book might have had. The author finishes by giving a glowing review to 'Phantom of Manhattan', a book so dreadful it ought to have won some kind of prize for ineptitude.
Large swathes of the book are just given over to reciting plot (oh dear- better have the plot right if you're going to do this), the rest to a faux-intellectualism that doesn't convince at all.
If you're reading this because you wanted to know more about this subject and wondered if this book was the answer- save yourself the money and just grab a random person leaving the stage production of Phantom. A random person who has actually watched it properly would be able to tell you more than Ms Hall. ... Read more

Product Description
Gaston Louis Alfred Leroux (1868-1927) was a French journalist, detective and novelist. In the English-speaking world, he is best known for writing the novel The Phantom of the Opera (Le Fant?'me de l'Opéra, 1910), which has been made into several film and stage productions of the same name, such as the 1925 film starring Lon Chaney; and Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical. Leroux went to school in Normandy and studied law in Paris, graduating in 1889. Then in 1890, he began working as a court reporter and theatre critic for L'Écho de Paris. His most important journalism came when he began working as an international correspondent for the Paris newspaper Le Matin. In 1905 he was present at and covered the Russian Revolution. He suddenly left journalism in 1907, and began writing fiction. He first wrote a mystery novel entitled Le Mystère de la Chambre Jaune (1908; The Mystery of the Yellow Room), starring the amateur detective Joseph Rouletabille. Leroux's contribution to French detective fiction is considered a parallel to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's in the United Kingdom and Edgar Allan Poe's in America. ... Read more

Product Description
Under the Paris Opera House lives a disfigured musical genius who uses music to win the love of a beautiful opera singer. The characters are portrayed as cats. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Given as a gift, Again
I've given this book, over time, as gifts to friends and relatives who, like me love the Webber musical. I don't think it's weord, as one reviewer said, I love it! I think it's whimsical, cute and clever. But of course I feel that way, since I have my own copy, soI'm in favor of it.

A cute rendition of the classic tale
This was a very child-friendly version of the tale, and had beautiful pictures.My only compaint is that the story hardly ever made mention of the fact that everyone's a cat in this version, but that's the only thing I can think of to critique.I recommend this to anyone that wishes to introduce their children to the classics without worrying about gory content.It's geared to ages 6-8, but is still a charming read.

The Phantom for Cat Lovers (and kids)
This cute variation of "The Phantom of the Opera" is perfect for cat lovers, and for children with one caveat.Despite the illustrations, which make it very child-friendly and the shortening of the story, some of the vocabulary would even be difficult for young adults.If you buy this for a child, make sure you read it with them, so you can explain unfamiliar terms.Otherwise, this is a wonderful book and the illustrations are beautifully done in bright vibrant colors.I highly recommend it as an introduction to one of the most famous stories of the last half century.

not for children
Im sorry, the words in this book are so hard, so over the top and hard my kids sat there looking bored sick. I don't know what age group this is for: more like college level. the pictures do not go with the store. Its the original Phantom words with cat pictures. Why didn't they just draw regular people or use a cat adapted story? Weird

Totally Kewl
This version (a little different from what you might expect) inspired me to start doing watercolors of the phantom as a cat but with that Gerry Butler body, heh heh.I bet this little book will inspire you to greatness, too! ... Read more

Product Description
Classic French detective novel, first published in 1914. According to Wikipedia, "Gaston Louis Alfred Leroux (May 6, 1868 [1] – April 15, 1927) was a French journalist and author of detective fiction. In the English-speaking world, he is best known for writing the novel The Phantom of the Opera (Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, 1910), which has been made into several film and stage productions of the same name, such as the 1925 film starring Lon Chaney; and Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical. Leroux's contribution to French detective fiction is considered a parallel to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's in the United Kingdom and Edgar Allan Poe's in the United States." ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more