First published in French as a serial in 1909 The Phantom of the Opera is a riveting story that revolves around the young Swedish Christine Daaé. Her father a famous musician dies and she is raised in the Paris Opera House with his dying promise of a protective angel of music to guide her. After a time at the opera house she begins hearing a voice who eventually teaches her how to sing beautifully. All goes well until Christine's childhood friend Raoul comes to visit his parents who are patrons of the opera and he sees Christine when she begins successfully singing on the stage. The voice who is the deformed murderous 'ghost' of the opera house named Erik however grows violent in his terrible jealousy until Christine suddenly disappears. The phantom is in love but it can only spell disaster. Leroux's work with characters ranging from the spoiled prima donna Carlotta to the mysterious Persian from Erik's past has been immortalized by memorable adaptations. Despite this it remains a remarkable piece of Gothic horror literature in and of itself deeper and darker than any version that follows.
