The Phantom of the Opera

"One of the most famous ghost stories that no one has actually read" (New York Times), The Phantom of the Opera is the first in the Haunted Library Horror Classics series presented by the Horror Writers Association. An unabridged edition of the novel that inspired the famous Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Deep beneath the Paris Opera House, a masked man lives in silence…Every night at the Palais Garnier, hundreds of guests sit on the edge of velvet-covered seats, waiting for prima donna La Carlotta to take the stage. But when her voice fails her, La Carlotta is replaced with unknown understudy Christine Daaé, a young soprano whose vibrant singing fills every corner of the house and wins her a slew of admirers, including an old childhood friend who soon professes his love for her. But unknown to Christine is another man, who lurks out of sight behind the heavy curtains of the opera, who can move about the building undetected, who will do anything to make sure Christine will keep singing just for him…This curated edition of The Phantom of the Opera, based on the original 1911 English translation by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos, brings an iconic story of love and obsession to today's readers and illuminates the timeless appeal of Leroux's masterpiece.

"One of the most powerful Gothic romances ever written." - The New York Times, "Horror Writers Association Haunted Library of Horror Classics series will be a revelation...Fans of literate horror, whatever their opinion of Andrew Lloyd Weber, will be gratified." - Publishers Weekly, "I found the story to be so compelling, and the characters so powerfully drawn... Is it a classic? Yes. It should be on your shelves." - Classic Mysteries

Gaston Louis Alfred Leroux (May 1868–Apr. 1927) was born in Paris, France to a respected and moderately well-to-do family. He turned to writing and became a theatre critic and, later, a highly-respected international newspaper correspondent. In 1907 Leroux suddenly and without explanation quit journalism and began writing fiction, prolifically penning thirty-seven novels and a number of short stories. Leroux’s most famous individual work, The Phantom of the Opera, was serialized in 1909 through 1910, and would go on to become one of the most recognized titles in the genre of horror writing.