Gaston Leroux

Gaston Leroux
Gaston Leroux (1868–1927) was a French novelist, journalist, and playwright, best known for his work in the mystery and horror genres. His most famous novel is "The Phantom of the Opera" (1910), which became a classic and inspired numerous adaptations in film, theater, and literature. He also wrote the detective series featuring the character Joseph Rouletabille, with "The Mystery of the Yellow Room" (1907) being one of the earliest and most influential examples of the locked-room mystery genre. Before becoming a novelist, Leroux worked as a journalist, covering sensational crimes and courtroom dramas, which influenced his mystery writing.

Author's Books:


Chapter I Is it the Ghost? It was the evening on which MM. Debienne and Poligny, the managers of the Opera, were giving a last gala performance to mark their retirement. Suddenly the dressing-room of La Sorelli, one of the principal dancers, was invaded by half-a-dozen young ladies of the ballet, who had come up from the stage after "dancing" Polyeucte. They rushed in amid great confusion, some... more...

CHAPTER I. In Which We Begin Not to Understand It is not without a certain emotion that I begin to recount here the extraordinary adventures of Joseph Rouletabille. Down to the present time he had so firmly opposed my doing it that I had come to despair of ever publishing the most curious of police stories of the past fifteen years. I had even imagined that the public would never know the whole truth... more...

I. GAYETY AND DYNAMITE "BARINIA, the young stranger has arrived." "Where is he?" "Oh, he is waiting at the lodge." "I told you to show him to Natacha's sitting-room. Didn't you understand me, Ermolai?" "Pardon, Barinia, but the young stranger, when I asked to search him, as you directed, flatly refused to let me." "Did you explain to him that... more...