The Phantom of the Opera (ePub)

Gaston Leroux (1868-1927) was a French journalist and author of detective fiction, who remains best known for his 1910 novel 'The Phantom of the Opera' (Le Fantôme de l'Opéra). This work has since become a classic in French literature and has been adapted into numerous films and the globally famous Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Leroux's literary style is characterized by his detailed scene constructions, intricate plot developments, and a blend of the supernatural with suspenseful narratives. Before 'The Phantom of the Opera,' Leroux penned 'The Mystery of the Yellow Room' (1907), which laid the groundwork for the locked-room mystery subgenre. Leroux's legacy in the field of detective fiction is noteworthy, as he contributed to the genre's evolution by combining Gothic horror with whodunit elements, a style that was quite innovative at the turn of the twentieth century. Beyond these, Leroux wrote a variety of other novels and short stories that exhibited his penchant for crafting engaging mysteries infused with a sense of the fantastic. His work reflects the tensions of his time, exploring themes of love, justice, and the blurred lines between reality and the supernatural. Despite being less well known than contemporaries such as Conan Doyle, Leroux's influence on the mystery and horror genres remains indelible.