本书是英文原版小说，被称为西方版的“夜半歌声”。故事发生在19世纪的巴黎，讲述了发生在巴黎歌剧院的一个神秘而凄美的爱情悲剧。克里斯蒂娜本是剧团的一名默默无闻的小演员，在一个偶然的机会中，她顶替剧团生病了的首席女演员卡洛塔上台演唱。她那天使般美妙的歌声立刻受到了观众的热烈欢迎，她旋即成为巴黎剧坛的新宠儿。克里斯蒂娜之所以能够有如此出色的表演，是因为有位神秘的老师暗中教授克里斯蒂娜歌唱。这位被克里斯蒂娜称作“音乐天使”的老师其实就是巴黎歌剧院人人谈之色变的“歌剧院幽灵”。这究竟是怎么回事呢？……

The little known, brilliant original text by Gaston Lerouxhas been immortalized by screen and stage adaptations.One of the greatest horror stories of all time, The Phantomof the Opera makes compulsive reading. It abounds with wonderful descriptions, extraordinary events, tragedy,horror, pathos, tremendous humour and a gallery of charming minor characters. Leroux’ s portrait of the hideous musician, crazed by his own extreme ugliness,shows compassionate insight into a criminally insanemind. Music infuses the story, enriching the many dimensions of the novel which is steeped in the glamourof life at the Paris Opera.

The author’ s knowledge of the building itself and the extra ordinary history of itsconstruction create a basis of realism in the story.Incredible, seemingly supernatural elements are art fully fused with real facts, with references to real peop]e,places and events, so that the novel becomes a dazzling blend of illusion and reality. It is hard to distinguish between them, and the result is that each chillingmoment is intensified. Gaston Leroux was a master ofhis genre.

Introduction

Author’s Introduction

Is it the Ghost?

The New Margarita

Why the Managers Resigned

Box Five

The Enchanted Violin

A Visit to Box Five

The Fatal Performance

The Mysterious Brougham

At the Masked Ball

’Forget the Man’s Voice.t’

Above the Trap-Doors

Apollo’s Lyre

A Masterstroke

The Safety-Pin

’Christinet Christinet’

Marne Giry and the Ghost

The Safety-Pin Again

The Commissary of Police

The Viscount and the Persian

In the Cellars of the Opera

Vicissitudes of a Persian

In the Torture-Chamber

The Tortures Begin

’Barrels! Barrels!’

Which Shall She Turn?

The End of the Ghost

Epilogue