The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (1910)

The masked genius haunting the Paris Opera House, his obsessive love for the soprano Christine Daaé, the underground lake, the chandelier crash — the Gothic romance that spawned the longest-running Broadway musical in history.

Historical Significance:
Leroux, a French journalist and novelist, serialized Le Fantôme de l'Opéra in 1909-1910. He based the novel on real events at the Palais Garnier opera house: an underground lake does exist beneath the building, a counterweight from the chandelier did fall during a performance in 1896, and the opera house's labyrinthine basement passages fueled rumors of ghosts. Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical has grossed over $1.3 billion on Broadway alone, making it the highest-grossing entertainment event in history. Lon Chaney's 1925 silent film performance remains one of cinema's most iconic images.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1910. Free to read and share.