Gaston Leroux 
The Phantom of the Opera 

The Phantom of the Opera is a Gothic novel by French author Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serial in Le Gaulois from 23 September 1909 to 8 January 1910, and was released in volume form in late March 1910 by Pierre Lafitte. The novel is partly inspired by historical events at the Paris Opera during the nineteenth century, and by an apocryphal tale concerning the use of a former ballet pupil’s skeleton in Carl Maria von Weber’s 1841 production of Der Freischütz.

The novel tells the story of a disfigured musical genius who haunts the Paris Opera House. The Phantom, as he is known, falls in love with a young soprano named Christine Daaé. He uses his powers to help her achieve success, but he also becomes increasingly possessive and jealous. When Christine rejects him, the Phantom takes revenge by terrorizing the opera house and its inhabitants.

The Phantom of the Opera is a classic Gothic novel that has been adapted into numerous films, television shows, and musicals. It is a story of love, obsession, and revenge that has captured the imaginations of audiences for generations.