Rupert Julian (1879–1943)

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.… (mere)