A child is born... His mother's only gift is a mask. Precocious and gifted, he will live friendless and alone. taunted and abused, he will flee, only to find himself caged again-as a freak in a Gypsy carnival. A brilliant outcast... the world is his home. Filled with bitter rage, he will kill to escape, becoming a stonemason's apprentice in Rome... a dark magician at the treacherous Persian court... and finally, the genius behind the construction of the Paris Opera House and the labyrinthine world below. Lacking one thing only: A woman's love. Cloaked in secrets, his power complete, he will see the exquisite Christine and for the first time know what it means to love. Obsessed, he will bring her into his eerie subterranean world, driven to posses her heart and soul. Phantom--A haunting story of power and darkness, of magic and murder, of sensuality and betrayal, and ultimately, the unforgettable story of a man and a woman and the eternal quality of love.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Susan Kay has created a masterpiece. She tells Erik's story with surprising originality yet retains all the integrity of Leroux's original novel. Though Leroux's novel is a masterpiece in itself, there is always the sense that he could have done so much more, a truly amazing lifestory lying there waiting to be told if only someone had the patience, skill and love to do it. Kay has taken on this task and created one of the best novels I have ever read. It is clear throughout that she is passionate about the Phantom, as many of us are, but she never lets her obvious love of the character stand in the way of the realism. We love the Phantom of our own accord, not under her instruction. Her historical insight is extraordinary and it is clear she has taken great care to preserve the integrity of every aspect of Erik's life.
A truly great novel by all standards. Why it has not been reprinted I will never know.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By S. Caughie
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Having a weak spot for a good Gothic tale, I've had my eye on this for a while. However, I wasn't willing to pay the extortionate prices it tends to sell for - even, sadly, the reprint. I finally found a cheap-ish one a few weeks ago, deliberated (mainly due to the previous review!), finally bought it, and have just spent a very enjoyable few days reading it. I've decided to review it mainly because I don't quite agree with the prevailing 'It's the best book ever' assessment, nor with the criticism in the last review, particularly of it being 'sexed up'.
What this book is, is a solid novel in the old-school Gothic tradition. Given that, I didn't find Christine annoying - or no more so than your typical heroine of this genre (pretty, weak, and yes, occasionally insipid, but only where the plot demands it...) As for being sexed up, well, I suppose it is compared to the original novel, given the disparate times in which the two were written. But only one of the three characters who is still sexually attracted to Erik after seeing his face actually acts on it; meanwhile, all three have pretty solid - if not always socially acceptable - reasons for their attraction. And actually, for a romantic novel, there was remarkably little sex involved. Most of the book deals with the terrible hardships Erik endures due to his disfigurement, and I actually thought that Kay presents this, and his resulting conflicted personality, very well.
Why not five stars, then? A lot of little reasons it's not worth going into here, ending with personal bias...only a handful of books move me to the extent that I'd call them perfect. This isn't a perfect book; but it is a very, very good one. Look out for a copy that isn't £20, buy it, and enjoy it for exactly what it is.
What this book is, is a solid novel in the old-school Gothic tradition. Given that, I didn't find Christine annoying - or no more so than your typical heroine of this genre (pretty, weak, and yes, occasionally insipid, but only where the plot demands it...) As for being sexed up, well, I suppose it is compared to the original novel, given the disparate times in which the two were written. But only one of the three characters who is still sexually attracted to Erik after seeing his face actually acts on it; meanwhile, all three have pretty solid - if not always socially acceptable - reasons for their attraction. And actually, for a romantic novel, there was remarkably little sex involved. Most of the book deals with the terrible hardships Erik endures due to his disfigurement, and I actually thought that Kay presents this, and his resulting conflicted personality, very well.
Why not five stars, then? A lot of little reasons it's not worth going into here, ending with personal bias...only a handful of books move me to the extent that I'd call them perfect. This isn't a perfect book; but it is a very, very good one. Look out for a copy that isn't £20, buy it, and enjoy it for exactly what it is.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
One of the few books that, when I finished it, all I could say was wow. Atruly amazing, very moving piece of literature. I actually cried when Iread this. It adds much more depth to Gaston Leroux's story, and is reallyworth reading. Like the Phantom's voice, it seduces you. You have thislittle voice in your head, telling you to keep reading. I could hardly putit down. Read it, even if you're not a fan of the Phantom of the Opera.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Phantom is truely amazing!
This book is amazing it goes everywhere the orginal book only hints at. It's an emotional rollercoaster of a book in so many ways some happy some sad some crazy, whether your a... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Frances1975
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read, for Phans
Ever since I saw the 2004 movie of the musical "The Phantom of the Opera", I've been a massive fan, particularly of the Phantom (like a lot of people, I would have chosen the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Sarah Jane
5.0 out of 5 stars
There you are Erik!
Having read the original Phantom of the Opera by Gaston LeRoux I was left a little disappointed as I wanted to know more. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Charlie
5.0 out of 5 stars
The man behind the myth
Susan Kay has written a wonderful book ,enhancing and bringing to life the story of the Phantom of the Opera. Read more
Published 17 months ago by miss marple
5.0 out of 5 stars
absolutly fantastic!
This has to be one of the best books i have ever read! i got through it in a day because i didnt want to put it down, the story was fasinating and it made me fall in love with... Read more
Published 18 months ago by leecii
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly unforgettable
It is quite a number of years since I read this book and it still has a real emotional hold over me. Erik is a very seductive characterisation. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Dr. Sarah Jordan
5.0 out of 5 stars
elegaic, bitter, innocent and beautiful
Susan Kay's "Phantom" has the same quality as the musical, the sense that every man who reads it wants to be a little more like Erik, and every woman who reads it wants her partner... Read more
Published on 24 July 2010 by msCaulfield
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easily one of my new favourites.
I read the original phantom of the opera after watching the movie musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and to be honestly I did not like the original novel so much because it rarely... Read more
Published on 24 April 2010 by Modupe Oriyomi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous
This book is extremely well written and delves into the story of what made Phantom, Phantom! Superbly written and very moving. Read more
Published on 3 April 2010 by Cindy
5.0 out of 5 stars
So good I bouhgt it 3 times!
Words cannot describe how much I adore this book-but I'll try!
I love this book so much that before it was readily available again evry book shop I came across, no... Read more
I love this book so much that before it was readily available again evry book shop I came across, no... Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2009 by Ren
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