No one sees the angel
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The mask, the music, the dark mysteries, and the tortured, deformed genius who just wants love. "The Phantom of the Opera" is so well known that its story needs no explanation.
But Gaston Leroux's novel is still a spellbinding experience, full of atmospheric horror, a sense of gothic mystery, and lushly evocative language. But its crown jewel is Erik: a magnificently tortured anti-hero who inspires more horror, pity and sympathy than the rather flat hero and heroine.
The Paris opera house is said to be haunted by a ghost with a "death's head," who demands a small salary and a reserved box. Despite the sightings and fears of ballerinas and stagehands, the new managers are determined to stamp out this ridiculous story -- despite threatening letters and increasing accidents that happen around them.
Meanwhile, budding diva Christine Daae is taking Paris by storm, although nobody quite knows who taught her how to sing. And when her childhood friend Viscount Raoul de Chagny pays her a visit, he hears a passionate exchange between her and a man -- but there's no man there. She credits her new vocal abilities to the Angel of Music, but of course, that self-same Angel is the opera ghost.
As the Phantom becomes even more attached to Christine, Raoul soon finds that the ghost is actually a half-mad, horribly deformed musical genius named Erik -- and that after Christine saw his true face, he made her become engaged to him. The young lovers plan to run away together, but the "Angel of Music" isn't about to allow his beloved Christine to leave him...
Apparently there actually were some odd events -- including rumours of an opera ghost -- happening when Gaston Leroux began writing "The Phantom of the Opera." And it's a credit to his imgination that he was able to spin a some odd facts into a harrowing, heartbreaking love triangle that's based on music, obsession, adoration, and a bit of pity. And, of course, a frighteningly sympathetic "villain."
Admittedly the style is very "penny dreadful": melodramatic and overloaded on prose. But Leroux's talent shines through -- he drapes the book in a haunted atmosphere, full of snowy graveyards, dark opera backstages and underground labyrinths, all with Erik's presence hovering over it. The plot is mostly a slow, satiny procession toward the inevitable blowup, but Leroux does tinge it with scenes of romantic drama, a feeling of dread, one shocking action scene, and even some quirky humour at times.
And Leroux's writing is simply astounding as he describes the corpselike appearance of Erik ("... tore his terrible dead flesh with my nails") and his "death's" head appearance at the party. But he also excels at the more poignant moments -- Erik's final, rambling monologue to Christine after she kisses him is heartbreakingly clumsy and saddening.
Though Christine and Raoul are the hero and heroine of the book, they're actually kind of flat. Erik is the real star -- an arrogant genius who is also pitifully lonely. And insane. Despite his crazed behavior -- which results in at least two deaths -- it's hard not to feel sympathy for someone cursed with such a ghastly appearance, and so starved for human contact that a single kiss changes his life ("... he tried to catch my eye, like a dog sitting by its master").
Despite being a bit overblown in the style of its time, "The Phantom of the Opera" is a triumph of atmosphere, horror, and one of the most memorably sympathetic "villains" that you can find on the shelves. Magnificent.
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Please, read this book.
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Depending on who you listen to this is either a masterpiece, or a shaky story which has since been improved through adaptations to film and stage. My opinion is the former. I had no trouble at all reading this book, in fact I had real trouble putting it down. For a phantom phan this is essential reading as the basis for all subsequent versions of the tale, and a very good read in itself. Those who know more recent versions of the story should not expect this to be exactly the same; in fact all the characters come across very differently, creating a very different overall storyline regarding the characters. The writer, Leroux, spent much of his writing career as a journalist, and 'The Phantom of the Opera' is written in a style which suggests a real investigation and interview of the characters by the author (hence the continually resurfacing hope of phans that the Phantom truly existed). This style works exceedingly well, in my opinion, as it leaves plenty of mysteries for the reader to consider, reflecting the nature of the story. Debates about certain points and occurrences continue to this day! This book truly is a must read, and as copies can be found cheaply most anywhere, you have no excuse for not reading it!
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ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ!!!!
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When I say that this book is really fantastic I really mean it!!!! I first saw the film and I was really absorbed in the story. Then I bought the book and I found that the story is really UNMISSABLE!!!!!!! Many important events were left out in the film, that is why I am telling you to read this story because it is really magnificent! The Phantom is not really a ghost but he's real. Will he really destroy a quarter of Paris if Christine refuses to love him? Well if you want the answer just read this book.
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Phantastic, what more could you expect?
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After seeing the stage play and watching the movie, i was only encouraged to read the original novel of 'The Phantom of the Opera'. Both stage and screen adhere closely to Gaston Leroux's classic tale of mystery and suspense, (however parts do differ and have to be altered), tells the tale of young opera singer Christine and the 'Phantom' Erik, set in the glourious Paris Opera House in the 1880's.
A amazingly enjoyable read and recommeded to any phan of 'Phantom'!
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a VEEEERY slow must-read book
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This book is a classic and the story is absolutely exellent! But it is so very slow and it is so very boring at times it takes years to read a page. But if you look through this boring or shimmering (depends on who you listen to) you see the most strange ghost story that you just have to believe is true. The swedish opera singer Christine and her friend Raoul de Changy are great friends ever since they were children. They lost contact for a while but when Christine got into the opera they met again. Raoul tells her his undying love but for a start she pushes him away with silly excuses while strange things happen at the opera.
After a few terrible accidents she confesses to Raoul that the Opera Ghost is real and that he has her under absolute control, almost like he owns her. If she marries anyone else or disobeys him, which is hard not to do, he would punish her and the people she held dearly and mostly, the opera. The intrigue starts and then what happens is up to you to find out. Read the book, it is a classic not similar to any other book ever written.
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