Leroux, Gaston

The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel

Average customer rating:

Wow. This is really a bad book.
Excellent story
Brilliant!
Help
WOW!

The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel
Gaston Leroux
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060809248

Book Description

The novel that inspired the Lon Chaney film and the hit musical. "The wildest and most fantastic of tales."--New York Times Book Review.

Customer Reviews:

Wow. This is really a bad book........2007-04-10

No seriously.
I had the highest expectation for this experience. But the story is a mess.
It's episodic to the point of distraction. The point of view changes randomly. At one point it's a confession, or a "verbal account". Then it is a written account from a character hardly seen in the first 70% of the story. To say the characters are weakly developed is an insult to...uh...weak people. The language is occasionally witty, but often repetitive and uninteresting.
The best part of the novel is the epilogue, which gives details of the Phantom's origins, all of which are FAR more interesting than the contents of the book. I also loved a bit about the real Opera House that came with my Easton Press copy.
I loved the stage musical, I loved the old films, I liked the new film...this was extremely disappointing.

Excellent story.......2007-03-08

This is a very gripping, interesting story. I would especially recommend it to "Phantom" fans who would like to learn the background of the characters.

Brilliant!.......2007-02-18

Often times mentioning "The Phantom of the Opera" ellicits snickers from theatre purists who see the musical as a somewhat ridiculously overblown slightly stupid story which all seems too far fetched to be taken seriously. I confess, I first fell in love with the story when I saw Andrew Lloyd Webber's rendition of the show (which I've seen about five times now) - a show which I now realize that if taken by itself, tends to be a somewhat ridiculously overblown slightly stupid story which seems too far fetched to be taken seriously. The original book changes everything.

Not only does the book contain the story of Erik, the Opera Ghost, but it also includes some of Leroux's own research into the story which he claims as true. Not only does he make this somewhat extrodinary claim to the truth of the story, but he in rather fine detail shows how there was really nothing supernatural at all about the story: even the seeming supernatural elements all have simple solutions: many of which Leroux himself found the 'keys' to while doing research for the book.

The book blows the musical away. Like sand-blasting a soup craker. But before I say more I will say that the musical picks up on many of the important parts of the book: that is to say, I would recommend reading the book and getting to know the story well, because then even though the musical only picks up on many of the important parts and not all, you'll know the rest of the story: and suddenly the musical won't be a somewhat ridiculously overblown slightly stupid story which seems too far fetched to be taken seriously - it's actually very believable.

Admittedly, it would have been far too difficult to make the entire story into a musical: but let me whet your appetite for the fuller details of this incredible love story by touching on a few of the most important difference between the book and the musical.

1. One of the most important characters from the book is gone from the musical. The very mysterious character called simply "The Persian" is not only Erik's one confidant in the book, but he also serves as a link between Erik and other people involved in the Opera. In the musical, Madam Giry represents both her role in the book, and The Persian. (I.e., in the musical, Madam Giry leads Raoul down to Erik's home under the Opera House: in the book, it's actually The Persian who does).

2. There is yet another character, simply called "A Shade" who also appears breifly in the book...a brief part, but actually quite dark.

3. Erik's brilliance as a ventriloquist is lost in the musical but fully explained and examined in the book

4. The most intriging part of the book, Erik's six-mirrored 'tourture chamber' - a major part of the story and a powerful demonstration of Erik's brilliance as a fearsome foe is completely missing from the musical.

This is easily my favourite book that I've ever read, and I recommend it to people all the time. Read it and enjoy it!

Help.......2007-01-10

This answers things I did not understand from the movie. It is hard to imagine how ugly the Phantom is supposed to be because there is no way to Make Gerard Butler ugly. The problem with a handsom, sexy Phantom is that it is hard to understand why Christine didn't chose him. But the book does show the Phantom's great love for Christine. The story is hard to follow sometimes but hang in there because it is a fairly good story.

WOW!.......2007-01-06

Since I was about 6 years old, I've had all the music memorized from the broadway musical 'Phantom of the Opera', and maybe a year or two later I saw the silent version of the film... terrifying! I think that the phantom from the silent film lived under my bed for several years.... he still might, and maybe a year or two after that I saw the version with Nelson Eddy in it.But when I finally got around to reading this book just this year, I was astounded! I didn't expect for it to be such a good read... it was a page-turner, and I already knew the outcome! As I turned every page, I kept saying to myself: why haven't I ever read this before? I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. So this is why they call it a classic...

The Mystery of the Yellow Room (Dedalus European Classics)

Average customer rating:

far-fetched
bye bye to Sherlock Holmes.
An ingenious page-turner
A Unique Mystery
Bir klasik !! - Sari Odanin Esrari

The Mystery of the Yellow Room (Dedalus European Classics)
Gaston Leroux
Manufacturer: Dedalus,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Phantom of the Opera: The Original Novel

ASIN: 1873982380

Book Description

(Rerecording)

This novel - the classic French detective story - was written in 1907 by Gaston Leroux, once a reporter who covered the famous trials of his time. (He also wrote THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.) Match your wits with his rival detectives - one amateur, one professional - as they try to crack the mystery. Mademoiselle Stangerson retires to bed in the Yellow Room. Suddenly revolver shots echo through the house and she screams for help. Her father and a servant run to the locked room where they find the wounded girl - alone. The only other exit, a window - barred. How had the assailant escaped?

Customer Reviews:

far-fetched.......2006-03-22

The plot of "The Mystery of the Yellow Room" is very clever, but the details of its execution depend on so many "near misses" (whether they be flying bullets or close escapes into the dark) and coincidences that it weakens its impact. Leroux's prose (in translation) is dry, unengaging and unevocative. My guess is that the original French prose was just as dull. It is a chore to get through his admixture of present, past, and past perfect tenses all piled one upon another telegrammatically. Some great eloquent story teller, I believe, could have given the story a rich enjoyable texture rather than leaving it as a barren, almost academic "brain teaser". The characters are only given so much dimension as to fit with the final solution but no other hints of humanity. Some of the motivations are silly indeed: for example, the young detective is willing to allow a second murderous assault on the victim just so he can get a better look at the villain's face!!! By the way, I figured out why the victim would not help the police apprehend her attacker, although I did not discover who he was. She did not know exactly who the attacker was because of a series of contrived situations that prevented her from coming face to face with the attacker despite many possible opportunities. That was really far-fetched! In short, The Mystery of the Yellow Room was a great first draft for a potentially great novel. One final question: If you are chasing a villain and he pulls off his fake beard and wig, do you suddenly have no clue that the person before you is the same one you have just been chasing, especially if he has been out of sight for only seconds?

bye bye to Sherlock Holmes........2005-01-16

This THE best mystery that ever took place in the locked-up room. You are going to like this Rouletabill; he is not a detective, but a journalist!!! He slowly starts to untangle the strings of mystery of the yellow room. You will be drawn into the book by this character made by Leroux, every time Rouletabill finds a clue, every time he puts the pieces together, and every time he attempts to catch the murder. The murder occured in the yellow room is already mysterius, but theres more. This book is full of the starnge happeneings and in the end, they are all explained by no other than Rouletabill, and MAN it felt good!!! I will garantee you will be suprized by the ending of this book, bye bye to Sherlock Holmes, he'll be out of job in no time!!!

An ingenious page-turner.......2004-12-20

Mlle. Strangerson, the daughter of a famous scientist, is brutally attacked in her bedroom. The window is barred, and the door is double bolted. No one, it seems, could have left the room. However, somehow, he did, leaving strange clues - a bloody imprint of a hand on the wall, a cap, and a hankerchief.
MYSTERY OF THE YELLOW ROOM is pure genius. Leroux winds and twists together meticoulous detail, interesting psychology, and seemingly impossible occurrences that produce a truly enjoyable and schocking finale. This is a wonderful read, and it is great for a rainy day.
MYSTERY OF THE YELLOW ROOM is an extremely influential book, though it is now virtually forgotten. It is one of the first locked-room mysteries, and it inspired Agatha Christie to write her first book.

A Unique Mystery.......2002-02-21

Leroux's story, in this writer's opinion, truly tops those of Doyle. It's a seemingly impossible case to solve, so complex that a diagram of the house has to be inserted in the book, and the outcome is surprising. Do not be thrown off by Leroux's seemingly clunky writing -- a complaint many have had with his other famous novel "The Phantom of the Opera." Leroux was originally a journalist, and even as an author, found it more comfortable to write his fiction as though they were written by a journalist, perhaps for a newspaper.

There are a couple of odd things that I guess just don't translate into English. One, throughout the entire novel they discuss "the murder of Mmme. Stangerson" -- though in fact it was simply an attempted murder. For many chapters I was trying to figure out how Mmme. Stangerson could be talking if she was murdered.

Also, my diagram seems to be missing a crucial number explaining where one of the windows is. While this is frustrating, it is fully possible to enjoy the novel anyway. I highly recommend this book, whether you're a Leroux fan, a mystery fan, or a fan of early 20th century fiction.

Bir klasik !! - Sari Odanin Esrari.......2000-11-22

Harika arkada$lar, tek kelimeyle harika. Son sayfaya kadar sizi içinde tutabilen bir kitap. Olaylarin bi açiklamasi olabilecegini dü$ünmüyosunuz bile. kitabin sonuna kadar meraktan çatlamazsaniz gerçekten çok $a$iracaksiniz. (Duydunuz mu adnan & inci ?)

The Phantom Of The Opera (Great Illustrated Classics)

Average customer rating:

Nice job
An insult to all bibliophiles
Illustrated? If that's what you want to call it....

The Phantom Of The Opera (Great Illustrated Classics)
Gaston Leroux , and Shannon Donnelly
Manufacturer: Abdo Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1596792485

Customer Reviews:

Nice job.......2005-07-17

When I saw Phantom of the Opera on the shelf. I instantly purchased it and read it... This book is absolutley magnificent. The illustrations are beautiful they show a sense of class and sophistication.. I was very fond of the Series itself (Great Illustreated Classics) I own 61 of those series, and I have no complaint about them they are very fun to read when your angry, sad, happy. or just bored. Great Illustreated Classics are a wonderful source of books for chilldren easy to read and quick, so you can read 3 a day. ( I read about 5), And they are worth every penny I have so go out there and buy yourself some great Illustrated classics. thank you

An insult to all bibliophiles.......2005-04-17

If you love books and Leroux's novel in paticular do not buy this book. Although the cover art promises great things, alas the illustrations remind one of a Barbie coloring book, only not as sophisticated. The less said of the butchering this line of books commonly does to great novels, the better. A much better read would be the version illustrated by Hilderbrant as the novel in itself shouldn't be beyond most young readers. For the very young try the Bullseye or Step Up chillers. Both are excellent reads.

Illustrated? If that's what you want to call it...........2005-04-07

First of all, I must say that Leroux's original novel is a bit of an obsession with me, so whenever I find another edition, illustrated or otherwise, I buy it. It's my "Catcher in the Rye" as it were...so when I found this "illustrated" edition...I jumped on it and bought it. I was truly disappointed with the pictures...I've seen better art from Jr. High students. Who would put such garbage in their book? Not only were the pictures poor...so was the "abridged" text. If you want a "simplified" version to read...read Lowell Bair's adapted version.
Poor take on The Phantom of the Opera...and only a good copy to put in one's "Phantom of the Opera Library" should you be a hardcore fan that must have every edition published (as I do).

Average customer rating:

Much better than the 2004 film!
A better translation for American students
Easy to understand
Worth re-reading.
The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera
Gaston Leroux
Manufacturer: Unicorn Publishing House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

French | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0881010820

Book Description

The lights dim at the Paris Opera House. The exquisite Christine Daae enraptures the audience with her mellifluous voice. Immediately, Raoul de Chagny falls deeply in love. But the legend of the disfigured "opera ghost" haunts the performance, and as Raoul begins his pursuit of Christine, he is pulled into the depths of the opera house, and into the depths of human emotions. Soon Raoul discovers that the ghost is real and that he wields a terrifying power over Christine--a power as unimaginable as the ghost's masked face. As Raoul and the ghost vie for Christine's love, a journey begins into the dark recesses of the human heart, where desire, vulnerability, fear, and violence unravel in a tragic confrontation.

Download Description

He lurked in the shadows of the Paris Opera House--a man with the voice of an angel but the face of a monster. His only hope for love is a beautiful soprano who draws him . . . to disaster.

Customer Reviews:

Much better than the 2004 film!.......2006-06-20

(I am 14 years old) The Phantom of the Opera in the Modern Library version was much better than the 2004 film. I loved the film but then I wanted more so I read this. Gaston Leroux characterizes the Erik (The Phantom) so differently from the Don Juan-ish charcter in the film. Erik is just searching and longing for someone to love him as himself, he's not overly lustful or seducing as in the movie. He also isn't attractive beyond his face, but more described by some as a "living corpse." This new idea about Erik made my parents approve of the book more than the movie (they haven't read the book but they said that Erik was too "creepy" in the movie). I love how Leroux tells it as almost a documentary or a report, I haven't read a book told like that before. Although it seems that it would be so much more descriptive and attention holding if he told it as if he were there. Nonetheless I am very satisfied with this book and I will re-read it in the future! I highly recommend this book to adventure/love/suspense/not-so-gruesome horror story lovers! Enjoy!

A better translation for American students.......2006-03-20

Some of my students were asking questions about the book that I was reading. It was Gaston Laroux's, The Phantom of the Opera.
A few tried to read it when I was finished, but many of the references were lost to fourth graders. I ordered this one and they love it! Now, they want me to buy the young reader editions of all the books I read.

Easy to understand.......2006-02-24

This version of The Phantom of the Opera is an excellent one for beginning readers and adults as well. For beginners, it is an easy-to-understand way to introduce the classic work. But this is also true for older readers. The unabridged version is an excellent book, but it might be hard to follow or just plain intimidating for many readers. Reading the Stepping Stone version first will give a clear understanding of the book. For instance, time jumps around in the regular version - and the history of the Phantom isn't even given until the very end. The Stepping Stone version proceeds from start to finish with the normal time frame. Readers who enjoy the book, will find the transition to reading the "real" book much easier. Stepping Stones are a great way to ease kids and adults into classic reads.

Worth re-reading........2005-12-02

This story comes off as a pretty typical penny-dreadful sort of tale at first glance, but there are subtle themes that are not apparent on the first read. I won't bore with details, but it is an unusually rich, human story despite the somewhat fantastical setting and the exaggerations inherent in the character of Erik.

Speaking of Erik (that's "The Phantom" to those of you who don't know), he's one of the best villians I've encountered in a while, right up there with Darth Vader. he is capable of extreme wickedness, but is still sympathetic, and those are always the villians that you remember. While Andrew Lloyd Webber did a fair job of adapting this tale to the stage and eventually film, much changed in the process, particularly Erik. He is not so slick in this book as he is in the musical, and definitely a bit more crazy, but I actually prefer Leroux's original to the derivative. The 2004 film did not quite do justice to this complex story and those who have only seen the film and no other form of the Phantom story ought to do themselves a favor and read the book.

In reference to the specific edition I purchased, the Greg Hildebrandt illustrated one, it is not, as has been mentioned in some reviews above (probably due to the fact that Amazon has made an unholy mess by crossing reviews from the umpteen different versions of this book), an abridged version. There are distilled children's editions out there, one by Peter Neumeyer, and another in the Illustrated Classics series but this isn't a children's edition despite the illustrations. This is, as far as I can tell (at least by comparing it to the free Gutenberg Project version) a complete translation of the original French text. I bought this edition specifically for the illustrations, which I enjoy, but some people do not care for the Hildebrandt style. If you like this artist, though, it is worth having for the pictures alone.

The Phantom of the Opera.......2005-12-01

If you're looking for a scary love story, then this is the book for you! Eric has the voice of an angel but the face of a monster. When he takes his ask off people scream and run away. So, he hides himself away in the bottom of the opera house.
Eric falls in love with a beautiful singer named Christine. Christine is forced to love him but she loves another man named Raul. Raul knows about the phantom and wants to hurt him.
The phantom scares everybody by turning the lights off and tacks Christine to his dungeon there she sees Raul in the dungeon...but you will have to read the book to hear the ending.

Average customer rating:

The Mystery of the Yellow Room
Gaston Leroux
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0766193667

Book Description

1908. The Mystery of the Yellow Room is the first book that justified Leroux's decision to give up journalism and concentrate on producing books. It was an early example of a locked room mystery, in which a murder is committed behind impenetrable sealed doors. The impossible crime was solved by a Gallic Sherlock Holmes of Leroux's invention, a detective called Joseph Rouletabille. The novel begins: It is not without a certain emotion that I begin to recount here the extraordinary adventures of Joseph Rouletabille. Down to the present time he had so firmly opposed my doing it that I had come to despair of ever publishing the most curious of police stories of the past fifteen years. I had even imagined that the public would never know the whole truth of the prodigious case known as that of The Yellow Room, out of which grew so many mysterious, cruel, and sensational dramas, with which my friend was so closely mixed up, if, propos of a recent nomination of the illustrious Stangerson to the grade of grand cross of the Legion of Honour, an evening journal, in an article, miserable for its ignorance, or audacious for its perfidy, had not resuscitated a terrible adventure of which Joseph Rouletabille had told me he wished to be for ever forgotten. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.

Average customer rating:

Good reading
Phantom of the Opera (Unabridged)

The Phantom Of The Opera [UNABRIDGED]
Gaston Leroux
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audiobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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The Phantom of the Opera (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

ASIN: 0786183322
Release Date: 2004-11-01

Product Description

A shadow of unease; a quickening pulse; an unnamed fear breathing on the collar of those who sit alone in their dressing rooms at the great Paris Opera. An unbearable compulsion to glance quickly over a shoulder in the dark corridors to the stage would sometimes reveal a figure in evening clothes moving softly in the shadowsa figure no one could name. Nothing is done, however, until the disappearance of Christine Daaé during her triumphant performance. With an increasing pattern of fear and violence, the Phantom of the Opera begins to strike but always with a beautiful young performer at the center of his deadly desires.

Customer Reviews:

Good reading.......2007-01-10

I love books of CD. I am in my car a great deal and books make the time go faster. I also miss a great deal (gotta pay attn to driving) so I listen over and over until I get it. This book can be complicated so listening more than once was necessary but I like this book very much.

Phantom of the Opera (Unabridged).......2006-07-06

I purchased this for from the music section for the Musical Phantom of the Opera. THERE IS NO MUSIC ON IT. It is a person reading the book on the CD's. I expected MUSIC - not someone reading a book.

Average customer rating:

The Essential Phantom of The Opera
An Essential for any Phan...
Wonderful resource
A reasonable choice
New edition...

The Essential Phantom of The Opera
Gaston Leroux
Manufacturer: I Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743498364

Book Description

The Essential Phantom of the Opera is the most comprehensive edition ever produced of the classic 1911 novel of romance, mystery, and psychological suspense, fully annotated with thousands of fascinating facts and legends. Here is the complete, authoritative edition of literature's most bizarre tale of love, obsession, and aberration-a story that has held an irresistible fascination for audiences and readers for nearly a century.

Customer Reviews:

The Essential Phantom of The Opera .......2005-07-22

Out of Stock - Never received this item.

An Essential for any Phan..........2005-01-31

This is the third translation of Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera that I have purchased, and I don't regret it. Most of us are familiar with the "official" translation - the one that is the tie-in for the musical (and countless other editions). Leonard Wolf gives us a newer and - as he feels - more faithful interpretation of the French text. (Sidenote: In the tie-in translation, the Phantom never refers to himself as the Phantom: only as the Opera Ghost, or O.G. In this version, he is always the more musical Phantom of the Opera.)

If you have not read Phantom yet, you may be a bit distracted by the voluminous footnotes. For the familiar reader however, the footnotes are the main reason to buy this edition. Wolf provides valuable insight into many areas of the text. He points out inconsistencies: Raoul goes from being 21 to 20. He provides commentary on the mythological allusions in the text.

Most valuable, he provides artistic commentary on the book. He shows how Phantom fits into Gothic conventions: the damsel-in-distress being menaced by a sexually threatening outsider, only to be rescued by a non-sexual aristocrat. But it is not quite that simple; Wolf shows that there are only two protagonists in the piece: Christine and Erik. He rightly shows Raoul for the foolish little sap that he is. He thinks that Leroux intended it to be that way, and that Christine has a much stronger bond with Erik than she does Raoul.

On the whole, I wish Wolf had written more. How about interpretive essays on the various adaptations, including the Lloyd Weber musical? He does include a lengthy introduction about the novel and Gaston Leroux himself. This volume is a must-have for any Phantom-enthusiast.

Wonderful resource.......2005-01-27

For fans of Phantom of the Opera the musical/movie, or just fans of literature of this time, I think this is a wonderful choice. This copy includes a lot of historical information that someone who isn't from Paris of the time just wouldn't catch otherwise, as well as a lot of critical analysis from an expert.

So, if you want to understand this book much more, this is a great edition.

EDIT: I've specifically learned that this is also a completely different translation than that which is available in public domain, and it does seem to include some nuances which are NOT in the other versions.

A reasonable choice.......2005-01-10

I picked up this copy of Phantom on a whim while at the bookstore and while I do not regret the decision, this book does have some flaws.
There are numerous typographical errors in the text of an obvious nature which do not detract from the story per se, but do make it less enjoyable to read. The annotations are well placed and informative but can become repetitive as their author harps on the basic characterizations of Raoul and Erik. The illustrations are over inked for the coarseness of the paper and can be somewhat unpleasant to look at.

If you are a casual reader, you may not want this edition. However, if you are more interested in the history of the book and the Opera House it depicts than the text itself, this is a copy worth purchasing.

New edition..........2004-12-17

This is the second printing of Leonard Wolf's "The essential Phantom of the Opera" that was first released back in 1996 (just in time for the releasing of ALW's Phantom movie...cleaver).

Many Phantom "phans" have been waiting for this book to be reprinted...and many have paid good money for 1st editions just last year. I have had a first edition since 1996, but also purchased this copy as there was supposed to be 8+ additional pages of info included (haven't found them yet, though...hummmm....).

This is a very good resource for those who wish to research Erik, The Phantom, in depth and learn more about him...more than merely what ALW gave us in his play (it lacks greatly in my opinion....).

If you like this book, try the following:

Phantom by Susan Kay
Beauty by Robin McKinley

The Phantom of the Opera (Thrift Edition)

Average customer rating:

The Phantom of the Opera (Thrift Edition)
Gaston Leroux
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486434583

Book Description

This thrilling novel and its many adaptations have captured the imaginations of countless audiences throughout the 20th century. The mystery classic featuring the "ghost" of the famed Paris landmark tells a gripping tale of human desire, fear, and violence before it resolves itself in a shocking and tragic confrontation.

The Phantom Of The Opera: Illustrated And Unabridged Edition

Average customer rating:

Wonderful
This Should Be the OFFICIAL Translation of POTO
^_^
A Very Worthy Edtion of the Phantom
Highly recommended

The Phantom Of The Opera: Illustrated And Unabridged Edition
Gaston Leroux
Manufacturer: Hollywood Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1932983139

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful.......2006-07-09

I love the original novel of the Phantom writen by Leroux, and this edition is just wonderful. The pictures with different styles and artists are just great and there's even a little new story at the end.
A great book for Phantom collectors.
Ladyghost.

This Should Be the OFFICIAL Translation of POTO.......2006-06-02

"All I ever needed to be good was to be loved for myself", thus Erik pathetically implores his beloved Christine as he tries to convince her to choose him over death.

For those of you who read the original translation and couldn't understand it, or those who've never read Leroux's original story, this book is a must read! Written in concise, easy to understand language, the Lofficiers offer a rendition of Leroux's novel that doesn't lose the original author's investigative, reporter's tone. It renders an in-depth account of Raoul's and Christine's relationship when they knew each other as children and the part Christine's father played during that one summer they spent together by the sea. I also found several places, especially in the beginning of the book, where the dialogue matched that of the 2004 movie. As an example, you will recognize "Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing. A true bird of summer, she glided in the golden rays of the Sun, her blonde hair adorned with the crown of Spring. Her soul was as clear and as blue as her eyes. She cajoled her mother, was kind to her doll, took great care of her dress, her little red shoes and her fiddle, but most of all she loved, when she went to sleep, to hear the Angel of Music..." (Yes, Christine was blonde and blue eyed in the original novel). Raoul is not so much the handsome, debonair hero of the book as he had been in the film. Although he is 21 years old in the book, he is handsome in a sort of effeminate way, a mild mannered, rather naïve young man having been raised, in turn, by his sisters, his aunt, and his elder brother, so it's easy to see where some may view him as a sort of "fop". But by the time the story begins, Raoul has already joined the Navy and had "served with honors aboard the Navy training ship, Borda, and made the customary trip around the world." For all his youth, Raoul is refined and eager, and is madly in love with Christine.

The Phantom is another matter. If all you've been exposed to is the handsome, sensual, lightly deformed phantom of the movie, you may not like this guy. He is literally a monster, not only in his horrific looks, but also in his demeanor. The man is obviously demented...but still, I felt sorry for him. Yet while I felt sorry for him, I couldn't blame Christine for not wanting to stay with him; she being the sympathetic, if not highly exploited, victim.

Another aspect that I liked about the book is that it includes the entire version that Leroux had written, uncut and unabridged. And quite frankly, I'm thankful for the added information. I especially enjoyed reading the musical history of the opera house, and it's interesting to note that the opera house had not one conductor, but six: Gounod, Reyer (for those of you who write phanphics, it looks like the movie's orchestra conductor came straight from Leroux's book - well, his name did anyway), Saint-Saens, Massenet, Guiraud, and Delibes "...each in turn had assumed command of the orchestra and conducted their own works." In fact, Leroux is so thorough in his narrative, and so convincing in his tone, that by the end of the book I found myself thinking, "Oh, my gosh, there really had been a phantom!"

You will find the managers to be as comical as ever (I thought so, anyway). Carlotta is stunningly beautiful, her exquisite voice above reproach (until the Phantom uses his ventriloquism on her), and the Persian a rather mysterious yet highly likable friend of Erik's (possibly the only friend the poor phantom ever had). Other characters, including the famed Mme Giry, also add their unique touch to the story.

Interspersed throughout the book are a variety of artists' renditions of the Phantom, many of them resembling the phantom made famous by Lon Chaney, but there are also a few unique and imaginative versions. And at the very end of the book, the translators offer their own account, entitled "His Father's Eyes", of the Phantom's ominous beginnings; his place of birth being rather ironic given the one who played the Phantom in the 2004 movie. (Or perhaps that was intentional)?

In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm happy to add it to my library of Phantom books, especially considering that it's Leroux's own. I, for one, am very glad that I bought this book!

^_^.......2005-09-30

I found the translation of this volume to be superb and the art smattered throughout was a nice touch. Also, the final part of the book, a musing on how two literary great could be related, was facinating.

A Very Worthy Edtion of the Phantom.......2005-05-06

J. M. & Randy Lofficier, owners of Black Coat Press, can be consistently counted on to produce quality books. Whether they are all new novels or as in this case, re-translations of books, each one is always a work of art. Such is the case here, which is an unabridged translation of the original novel from 1911 written by Gaston Leroux.

It tells the tale of the tragic events in the Paris Opera House in 1881. It tells of the mysterious figure, occasionally seen, often sensed, but never captured that turned the Opera House into his own personal playground. He stalks some for amusement, others for money, and one for love. When the new Directors make the mistake of angering him, he sets out to claim all that is owed him once and fore all.

In addition to re-translating the original novel, J. M. & Randy Lofficier have included over forty new illustrations by numerous artists unique to this text. Each drawing is a stark vision that captures the pain of the novel. While the styles of presentation vary greatly, almost all depict the Phantom as envisioned by the artist. Those illustrations fit nicely with the novel as well as does the original short story penned by J. M. and Randy Lofficier found at the back of the book. The story attempts to explain the Phantom's dark beginnings. Was it genetics or environment? The question is left open to interpretation.

At 381 pages and with over forty new illustrations, the work stands on its own as a quality novel and one worthy of your collection.

Book Facts:

The Phantom of the Opera
By Gaston Leroux
Adapted and Re-Translated by J. M. & Randy Lofficier
Black Coat Press

2004
ISBN # 1-932983-13-9
Large Trade Paperback
381 Pages
$24.95 US

Kevin R. Tipple © 2005

Highly recommended.......2005-01-18

It's unfortunate that the previous reviewer was so biased against the popular graphic art style used to illustrate this edition of "Phantom." The illustrations, in particular, by Steve Rude, Mike Collins, Mike Ratera, Ladronn, David Lafuente, Juan Roncagliolo Berger, Stephen R. Bissette, Fernando Pasarin, Mike Vosburg, Eric Shanower, and Manual Garcia, make this edition well worth the cover price.

So the prior reviewer completely missed the mark on the art didn't even mention the faithful translation in this unabridged edition. In addition the previous reviewer failed to mention the completely new bonus story by Jean-Marc and Randy Lofficier which is included at the end of the volume. "His Father's Eyes" is a compelling addition to the Phantom mythos, and this edition is a worthy addition to anyone's collection.

Average customer rating:

great book for a mystery fan

The Mystery of the Yellow Room
Gaston Leroux
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486449289

Book Description

How could a crime take place in a locked room which shows no sign of being entered? Nearly a century after its initial publication, Leroux's landmark tale of foul play, deception, and unbridled ambition remains a blueprint for the detective novel genre. This atmospheric thriller is still a favorite of whodunit fans everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

great book for a mystery fan.......2006-08-02

I read this book not knowing what to expect. I had read many mystery books before this one so I was pretty good at figuring out who the culprit was and how the crime was committed. The Mystery of the Yellow Room was a different story. As I was reading I tried to work out how it was done and who did it but I was stumped and I can guarentee that whoever else reads this book will be stumped as well. Ending is a great twist. This is a great mystery and I also recommend the sequel The Perfume of the Lady in Black.

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