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    The Phantom of the Opera
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    The Phantom of the Opera
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    The Phantom of the Opera
    Audiobook2 hours

    The Phantom of the Opera

    Written by Gaston Leroux and Barnaby Edwards

    Narrated by Anna Massey, Alexander Siddig and James D'Arcy

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    The new proprietors of the Paris Opera House are amused to discover that their costly acquisition is said to be haunted. But their smiles quickly vanish as tragedy follows misfortune. Deep in the catacombs beneath the Opera House, something is stirring...
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBig Finish Productions
    Release dateMar 1, 2008
    ISBN9781781786710
    Author

    Gaston Leroux

    Gaston Leroux was born in Paris in 1868. He grew up on the Normandy coast, where he developed a passion for fishing and sailing. Upon reaching adulthood, he qualified as a lawyer, but, upon his father's death, his received a large inheritance, and left the law to become a writer. He first found fame as an investigative reporter on L'Echo de Paris, and travelled the world in a variety of disguises, reporting on a wide range of topics from volcanic eruptions to palace revolutions. In 1907, he changed career once again, and started work as a novelist, finding critical and commercial success with works such as The Mystery of the Yellow Room (1907) and The Phantom of the Opera (1911). Leroux continued to be a prolific writer until his death in 1927 - the result of complications following an operation.

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    Reviews for The Phantom of the Opera

    4/5

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    • 4/5
      [ Phantom of the Opera] by [Gaston Leroux] was a Gothic tale centering around the ghost of the Paris Opera House, Eric (as they call him). I have seen the musical twice and much prefer it over the book not because of the scenery, the costumes, or the music, but because of the tale, or the lack of it The book is very very detailed and we have a nice little wrapped up package in the end, where everybody ends up "happy", even Eric; who finds another opera house. I much prefer the "unknown" of the musical. The book also seemed to drag for about 4-5 chapters when telling about the dungeon. I read this and listened to it on audio while driving. The audio was very well done. A good read; not a great read.
    • 4/5
      This is a book that inspired a whole trope - that is mystery ghost, killing people, demanding things, associated with basement of whatever venue he or she was haunting. And, like any book that inspires a trope, it has been adapted many times, from movies, stage plays, and a small Broadway musical that you might have heard of....Of course, this is the original. And it is well written. At the time, I suspect this was suppose to be a scary story. Because of how well known this story is, its hard to be scared when you know the story.As for the characters, Erik (the phantom) is a deeply trouble person. His deformity has led him to be rejected by humanity, which leads him to be a monster. The author is very clear on why Eric is the way he is. This makes the book weighty than it is on first glance. Its the monster versus the Angel.In most adaptations, Erik is written as a musical genius, but in the original book, Erik is a genius of traps - able to make tortuous clock work that slowly kills his enemies. The traps are bit over the top - I can't imagine a man building these trap doors and secret passages without someone knowing - This is a theater with thousands of personnel who know this building front and back. Christine is also interesting - she isn't just a damsel in distress whom the Phantom took an interest to. She is also smart - smart enough to know how to make Erik happy. She fears him, but also pities him. She knows what he is capable of. Christine's compassion of the Erik softens his image of the monster.The other characters are mostly generic stereotypes, although the Persian is described as having ebony skin, which is interesting. He is the "Daroga" , or police chief in a major city in Persia, given the task of killing Eric after he completed the Sultana's torture chamber. The Viscount is fairly standard - a perfect gentleman, who is living for love, and will do anything for the love of his life, Christine.The setting of this book, the Paris Opera House - is really well described. Leroux manages to show just how big this building is, how many people it employs - it is another major character. The book wouldn't be the same without it.This book isn't perfect - some things go on too long, others not enough. The ending is rather anti-climatic, to easy, to unexpected. But, it is well written - with interesting characters. And, it is the start of a whole type of mystery books.
    • 3/5
      Book on CD narrated by Alexander AdamsIs there anyone left on the planet who doesn’t know this storyline? Christine Daaé is elevated from the ranks of the chorus to opera star, thanks to the private lessons by and the patronage of The Opera Ghost. “OG” (as he signs his notes to management) also sees to it that anyone standing in the way of his protégé meets with an accident or is otherwise persuaded to stand aside. But when Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny, sees Christine at the Paris Opera House, he remembers the little girl whose scarf he rescued. Now he wants nothing more than to rekindle their relationship. Christine is drawn to Raoul, but still tightly in the grasp of the phantom she believes is the Angel of Music her father promised to send her when he was on his death bed.The passion of the story, as well as the horror, mystery and danger, have kept it a favorite for over a century. It’s been adapted to film several times, and of course made into the hit musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber, but the novel does much more to explain The Phantom’s underlying psychology and twisted motivations.I enjoyed the story, but it’s not really to my taste, and I found it hard to believe the characters. I think this may be partly due to Adams’s reading; he has a voice with an annoying tone. (Remember hearing those OLD news reels circa 1930s or 1940s? He sounds like those announcers.) At times I felt he was just reading words, without any feeling behind it. Other times I felt the emotion was just forced.
    • 4/5
      [ Phantom of the Opera] by [Gaston Leroux] was a Gothic tale centering around the ghost of the Paris Opera House, Eric (as they call him). I have seen the musical twice and much prefer it over the book not because of the scenery, the costumes, or the music, but because of the tale, or the lack of it The book is very very detailed and we have a nice little wrapped up package in the end, where everybody ends up "happy", even Eric; who finds another opera house. I much prefer the "unknown" of the musical. The book also seemed to drag for about 4-5 chapters when telling about the dungeon. I read this and listened to it on audio while driving. The audio was very well done. A good read; not a great read.
    • 3/5
      I found this hilariously over the top, for the most part, helped by the fact that in one of the versions I read, all emphasis was done by capitalisation. It just made me think of Erik as a troll on the internet, honestly...

      It's interesting how much more popular I'm told the musical is, than the book. And the book did badly originally, if I remember that rightly. There is something very dramatic about the book that might be best dealt with on the stage. And, of course, you can't hear the enchantment of Erik's singing, in the book.

      It's also interesting how devoid of a hero this book is, at least from my perspective. Christine is central, in that it's her that Erik fixates on, and who Raoul loves. Erik is central, in that he's probably the most fascinating figure of the book, but he's also self-centered and murderous and more like a villain. Raoul is important, but doesn't take much action. The Persian, with his ideas of saving Christine, is perhaps the most heroic, but rather in the background for most of the book. There's not much to hang onto and care about, in terms of characters.
    • 3/5
      I saw the opera-musical and had to read the book so I would know what was going on. It was certainly different. Raoul, Christine's childhood friend and lover, is a viscount (brother of a count), and Eric (the Phantom) is a trap-door wizard, besides being a master at torture, a ventriloquist, and determined by any means to have Christine.

      I liked the description of the Opera House, with its many levels above and below ground. I doubt it could be the way the book described, in real life.
    • 5/5
      Great Classic. I enjoyed it very much.
    • 4/5
      An monster living beneath Paris wants to be loved.3.5/4 (Very good).There's some delightful, iconic spooky stuff. The adventure/suspense stuff usually works. It even has a sense of humor. The first half is slow, though, spending a lot of time with a "hero" character who is completely insufferable.(Feb. 2022)
    • 4/5
      Gaston Leroux’s 1910 gothic horror tale The Phantom of the Opera is a twisted tale of obsessive love. The characterization of Erik is the most notable aspect of this classic melodrama. Simultaneously abhorrent and sympathetic, his loveless, tortured soul is reflected in his torture chamber; his monstrous disfigurement condemns him to winning his love Christine only by force. His halting, emotional soliloquy at the end is simply heartbreaking. The fantastic settings are also quite memorable: the grand Paris Opera House, the torture chamber, and the fantastic subterranean waterway. I found Leroux’s narrative in the middle third quite dense, and a bit of a slog to get through. Overall, an interesting read, if only to compare the original to the screen and stage adaptations.
    • 5/5
      Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux1880 Paris, the famed Palais Garnier Opera House is rumored to be haunted. With the death of a stage hand and other mysterious events, people begin to wonder. Then rising Opera Star Christine is set to replace Carlotta, the lead Soprano after a mysterious illness.When Raoul overhears Christine talking to a mysterious man in her dressing room, he begins to suspect it the the infamous "ghost". Raoul is in love with Christine and will do what ever it takes to protect her, at any cost.Told with raw emotions, Gaston Leroux brings out the depth of feeling among his characters, breathing life into each one. Phantom of the Opera is a classic (tragic) love story to be cherished for all time. (A) must read for those all.
    • 4/5
      This ends much differently then the musical. I rather liked having much more background on the opera ghost. I missed the beautiful music though. I didn't give it 5 stars because the language felt funny as I read it. That slowed down the flow
    • 4/5
      The fascinating “true” story behind Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s classic musical and later 1994 film, this is a fascinating historical novel that is itself historical fiction. Originally written in 1911, Leroux based the now famous tale of a legendary figure haunting the cellars of the Paris Opera House. An investigative journalist by trade, Leroux was inspired to research this literal ghost story, which inspired The Phantom of the Opera, which Leroux laid down with excellent research as a true account.

      A must-read for lovers of the film (and perhaps the musical, which, alas I have sadly never seen), you’ll be fascinated by the research and purported events that inspired this well-known tale.
    • 5/5
      An excellent story, written as a reporter searching for the truth. Quite different from the movies and the operetta.
    • 5/5
      The Phantom of the Opera is so well known that I don't think I need to put a synopsis of the plot here. There have been so many movie adaptations, book sequels/prequels by various authors... and who can ever forget the sucessful stage production (which I am guilty of seeing twice)?The strength in this editon of The Phantom of the Opera lies in the introduction, the afterword, and especially the added information concerning the Paris Opera House itself. I read the novel years ago and it was just a simple translation. This edition provides much needed background information on Gaston Leroux and his motivation for writing The Phantom of the Opera that enriches the reading of the novel. The Afterword also shines a light on the founding of horror fiction itself including The Phantom of the Opera's place in it. The "Haunted Library" has undertaken a welcome exploration of the history of the horror genre itself. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
    • 3/5
      I read this book for the "A Book Written Before 1920" part of my 2018 reading challenge. I enjoyed it, it was much like the musical but also provided a lot more back story. It made it much more "real" and less fantasy.
    • 4/5
      I find it impossible to separate the audiobook from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. The novel, naturally, has more detail than the musical, but Webber did such a fantastic job of staying close to the original source material that even if I got busy and only half paid attention to the audiobook, I was never lost. If you are a fan of the musical, you will definitely enjoy this.
    • 4/5
      An iconic love/ghost story... a deformed man haunts the Paris Opera House and mentors/ensnares a gifted, beautiful soprano. Tough sledding for non-readers but still worth reading. The Broadway musical will heighten its appeal.
    • 3/5
      2.5 stars

      The Phantom of the Opera is almost universally acclaimed as a classic Gothic horror story, and I’ve often heard that it rivals Dracula or Frankenstein. There is no denying the influence of this book, and Leroux deserves a great deal of credit for creating an incredible plot. Conceptually, it is a perfect storm of Gothic nightmares: the ancient, labyrinthine opera house; the many colorful characters that make the beautiful Paris Opera House the center of their lives; a love triangle in which one of the lovers is an actual monster; echoes of Persephone and Hades... What more could a gothic aficionado want?

      Well, unfortunately, good writing is at the top of the list. Leroux's ambition far surpasses his ability. The book is poorly written in nearly every detail. The dialogue is ridiculous; even when the characters are engaged in the most serious discussions, their cartoonish dialogue ruins these scenes. The narrative itself is repetitious, tedious, and contrived, so that the overall effect is rarely horrific or suspenseful; ultimately it was quite mind-numbing and dull. The tone of the book careens widely from slapstick to the thrilling, with the result that any attempted atmospheric consistency is never fully established. The characters are not particularly interesting or sympathetic. Christine Daae is self-centered and manipulative, never demonstrating any admirable qualities. Okay, she is beautiful and talented, but her personality isn't worth all the trouble her suitors go through for her. Raoul, the young man who is madly in love with her, is never develops into a believable character. He is simply too plain to be accept as “real”. The Persian and the Phantom are naturally more interesting, given the air of mystery that surrounds both, but little is done to develop them to something more than minor set characters.

      Frankly, I struggled to finish, and skimmed the audiobook for the last hour or so. Ultimately, I just didn’t care what happened because of the lack of development mentioned above. The potential of the plot is great, but the story wasn’t brought to life for me.

      I also struggled with the narrator and the recording itself. It seemed to change sound levels and tone at random throughout the book, perhaps where the narrator stopped recording for the day, and picked up another time. Whatever the case, the sound guys didn’t save the settings, which didn’t help with the possibilities of this book.
    • 4/5
      I've seen the musical more than once and loved both the music and the story, and I remember feeling a little bit sorry for the phantom throughout it all. The unrequited love part of it all made me feel quite sad for this poor character, but now I've read the book my feelings have changed. Erik is a monster. He kills, blackmails and kidnaps. Thank you, Leroux, for such a dark character. The book is beautifully written and a wonderful Gothic tale.
    • 1/5
      OMG WORST BOOK EVER.
    • 5/5
      Of all the versions I have read and sampled, this to me is the richest read there is. Would definitely recommend this version to any Phan
    • 5/5
      This book is utterly amazing. Mr. Gaston Leroux is truly talented for telling such a heartwrenching tale.
    • 3/5
      A timeless classic in the Gothic horror genre, rightly compared with Victor Hugo's Hunchback of Notre-Dame. The afterword mentions an American reviewer's distaste for the opera ghost being merely human, but after seeing many horror movies in recent times where the face of the supernatural being is revealed, I am inclined to prefer the man masquerading as a ghost any time. Apparently Leroux wrote detective novels before this work and the influence is noticeable. The nature of the building and the brilliant descriptions (or more accurately, allusions) to the opera itself recall many a nightmare where one is trapped underground. Leroux had access to the Palais Garnier to research his work and it is obvious in the story. This was an easy and enjoyable read and one I should have completed many years earlier. While I do not usually have a preference for the Gothic genre, this 1910 classic presents a complex mood that, for me, was belied by the images of the phantom singing with Marina Prior that haunted Australian televisions screens throughout the 1990s.
    • 3/5
      Love triangle with a ghost. Kept me occupied
    • 4/5
      “I want to have a wife like everybody else and to take her out on Sundays. I have invented a mask that makes me look like anybody. People will not even turn round in the streets. You will be the happiest of women. And we will sing, all by ourselves, till we swoon away with delight. You are crying! You are afraid of me! And yet I am not really wicked. Love me and you shall see! All I wanted was to be loved for myself. If you loved me I should be as gentle as a lamb; and you could do anything with me that you pleased.”

      Poor, unhappy Erik.

      As many people know, the Phantom of the Opera's plot is like the fairytale Beauty and the Beast with tragic ending instead of a happy one. The beast, the Opera Ghost, named Erik lived under a Opera House. He haunted it with his craftsmanship of trickery and illusions. Christine Daae, on the other hand, was an opera singer who were lured by the Opera Ghost; she believed that Erik was the Angel of Music. Raoul de Chagny was her lover.

      The author succeeded in interlocking his story to the real facts and events in real life. At the beginning, for a moment there, I was beginning to believe the story was real. But, I remember this book is under fiction. haha. I had a lull moment in the middle part which caused me to do something else and not finish this book at once. I picked the momentum again by reading ChapterXX (That's why I do not easily give up on books). I like the part of the Persian until the end of the book.
    • 4/5
      I felt this book was a little disappointing. I wasn't really interested in any of the characters until the end of the novel and even at that point I only really liked Raoul and the Persian. Christine was just so stupid and the Phantom was so annoying with his whole "I'm ugly; pity me!" There wasn't any point in the book where I really wanted to read it until the end as it was building up towards the climax. Then just I was starting to feel like this book was actually going to be great, Gaston Leroux gave it an awful ending. I'm only going to give this book 3.5 stars and I would only recommend to fans of Gothic Literature or movie.
    • 2/5
      I wanted to like this one more than i did. I hate when i dislike a classic because i feel like i'm just dumb and i'm missing something, but other negative reviews of this book make me feel a little bit better about the way i feel about it. (Also, it seems to me that a lot of the positive reviews are heavily influenced by the movie, which definitely skews things.) I was mildly interested in the plot. I think the story could have been told much better, mainly by following characters who were more directly involved with it. Instead, we get a lot of information second-hand and the action is interrupted by insignificant side stories. It was really slow and uninteresting at times. The phantom was probably the most interesting character and yet he still wasn't very well developed. I thought i'd learn more about him in the book, but i didn't. I didn't find it very easy to sympathize with him either as i felt i was supposed to. The rest of the characters were flat and dull, in my opinion. I almost liked how Leroux tried to pass this all of as a real event except that considering the descriptions of the phantom and a random rat-herder, there's no way that was a true story. Had the phantom been more realistic (and the rat-herder not existed, maybe?), i would have liked that aspect of it better. The book did explain the "Keep your hand at the level of your eyes!" thing better than the 2004 musical did, although, there was a very elaborate explanation that was mostly unrelated information, so that was kind of silly.*Review written on May 13, 2014.*
    • 3/5
      Die Geschichte um das Phantom der Oper ist natürlich ein Klassiker und auch zu Recht oftmals adaptiert worden. Allerdings ist das originale Buch schwerfällig und nicht allzu einfach zu lesen. Der Stoff ist eigentlich in den Adaptionen besser behandelt worden.
    • 3/5
      I read this after seeing the musical. I would never have read the book if not for the musical.Not my style of read.But I did read it many years ago and found it too "dark". I realize the Phantom had a life of tragic circumstances and lived as a result of society and its fears. It was well written and is a classic. I would suggest it be read. I just found it disappointing after seeing the musical.
    • 3/5
      2.5 StarsI saw (one of the many) movie[s] when I was a kid and the opera itself about 12 years ago and I have to say I enjoyed the opera better than the book. As a book, it is just strange and odd with lots of long descriptions and telling and few scenes with dialogue. Played out on stage this is amazing, but I struggled reading through it