Erik, the Phantom of the Paris Opera House, is one of the great icons of horror literature. This tormented and disfigured creature has made his home in the labyrinthine cellars of this opulent building where he can indulge in his great passion for music, which is a substitute for the love and emotion denied him because of his ghastly appearance. It is in the Opera House that he encounters Christine Daa� whom he trains in secret to become a great singer. Erik s passionate obsession with a beautiful woman beyond his reach ...
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Erik, the Phantom of the Paris Opera House, is one of the great icons of horror literature. This tormented and disfigured creature has made his home in the labyrinthine cellars of this opulent building where he can indulge in his great passion for music, which is a substitute for the love and emotion denied him because of his ghastly appearance. It is in the Opera House that he encounters Christine Daa� whom he trains in secret to become a great singer. Erik s passionate obsession with a beautiful woman beyond his reach is doomed and leads to the dramatic tragic finale. Gaston Leroux s novel is a marvellous blend of detective story, romance and spine-tingling terror which has fascinated readers ever since the work was first published.
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You cannot be a Phantom phan without reading this book. True, it's absent of music which is a lot of the reason people like it, but the story gives a more indepth look to Erik's character, and into the romance of Christine and Raoul. This book is the real version, the very first and original Phantom. It's short and easy to understand if you're someone who isn't all that big into reading. There is every different level of love imaginable, and more understanding as to why Erik had such an effect on Christine in the first place. It gives an introduction to things to look into for further reading as well, such as Faust or Masque of the Red Death, both of which is seems Erik can relate to. Wonderful read and absolutely moving!
bookishwench
May 8, 2007
Great even without the songs!
Suitably suspenseful and creepy, with plenty of good scares, this book is also remarkably deep and well-written for what is essentially a horror tale. The movie is good, the play is wonderful, but the novel contains so much more! If you are a Phantom fan, you must read the original.