Publisher's Synopsis
Serialized in Le Gaulois in 1909-1910, The Phantom of the Opera first appeared in novel form in 1911, at which point it completely failed to catch the imagination of the public, leading the book to go out of print. The novel found new life several times over the next century thanks to popular adaptations, most notably the 1925 Lon Chaney film and the 1986 stage musical. The novel is a tightly-plotted gem, bringing to life the world of the Paris Opera House through theuse of horror, mystery, romance, and a very dry sense of humor. It is not the most important novel in French literature, but it is certainly one of the most enjoyable.
