The Phantom of Manhattan

1999 novel by Frederick Forsyth

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The Phantom of Manhattan

First edition (UK)

Author| Frederick Forsyth
Language| English
Genre| Thriller, Mystery, Romance
Publisher| Bantam Books (UK)
St. Martin's Press (US)

Publication date

| November 1999
Publication place| United Kingdom
Media type| Print (Hardcover, Paperback & Mass Market Paperback)
Pages| 204
ISBN| 0-593-04510-6

The Phantom of Manhattan is a 1999 novel by British writer Frederick Forsyth, written as a sequel to the 1910 novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux. It is widely known to have been written at the request of Andrew Lloyd Webber as material for a potential sequel to The Phantom of the Opera.[1]

Forsyth's literary concept is that Leroux had recorded factual events but, in review, had apparently not checked his facts or viewed his sources with a critical eye. The novel can therefore be read as both a tribute to Leroux's novel, and also a satire of period novels.[citation needed]

When explaining his inspiration and motivation to write it, Forsyth said "I had done mercenaries, assassins, Nazis, murderers, terrorists, special forces soldiers, fighter pilots, you name it, and I got to think, could I actually write about the human heart?"

The beginning of The Phantom of Manhattan is narrated by an ailing Madame Giry, and set in the early 1900s. Famous individuals of the time, such as Theodore Roosevelt, are mentioned in the novel.

The 2010 stage sequel to the 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, is based partly on The Phantom of Manhattan.

## Characters

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* Erik Muhlheim "The Phantom" \- Former Phantom of the Paris Opera, now an important New York impresario.
* Christine Daaé, Vicomtesse De Chagny - A famous soprano, and the Phantom's main love interest. She is married to Raoul and has one son, Pierre.
* Raoul, Vicomte De Chagny \- Christine's husband. Speaks only French.
* Antoinette Giry \- Former ballet mistress of the Paris Opera, rescued Erik from a circus when he was a child, and years later helped him come to the United States.
* Darius - Previously a runaway, ended up "a pleasure-boy in a house of sodomy," and eventually a son figure to Erik, as well as business partner, and ambiguous companion.
* Pierre De Chagny - Young son of Christine and the Phantom. Assumes Raoul is his father, but doesn't know his biological father.
* Charles "Cholly" Bloom - New York American reporter who wants to discover the truth about the Phantom. Unbearably annoying.
* Father Joseph "Joe" Kilfoyle - Irish Priest and Pierre's tutor, who is secretly attracted to Christine.
* Meg Giry \- Madame Giry's daughter. She was a ballerina at the Paris Opera before a crash ended her career.
* Armand Dufour - Lawyer contracted by Madame Giry to carry the letter to Erik in New York.
* Taffy Jones - Coney Island's animator, accidentally hears a revealing conversation between Erik and Christine.
* Jesus
* Mammon
* Gaylord Spriggs - Opera Critic

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Lefkowitz, David (27 April 1998). "Frederick Forsyth Helps Pen Lloyd Webber's Phantom "Continuation"". Playbill.com. Retrieved 1 July 2023.

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The Phantom of the Opera (1909–1910) by Gaston Leroux

Literary adaptations|

* Phantom (1990)
* The Canary Trainer (1993)
* The Phantom of Manhattan (1999)

Stage adaptations|

* Phantom of the Opera (1976)
* The Phantom of the Opera (1986) and its sequel Love Never Dies (2010)
* Phantom (1991)

Film and television
adaptations|

* Das Phantom der Oper (1916)
* The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
* Song at Midnight (1937)
* Phantom of the Opera (1943)
* The Phantom of the Opera (1962)
* The Phantom of Hollywood (1974)
* Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
* The Phantom of the Opera (1989)
* Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge (1989)
* The Phantom of the Opera (1990)
* The Phantom Lover (1995)
* The Phantom of the Opera (1998)
* Phantom of the Megaplex (2000)
* The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
* The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011)

Characters|

* Erik
* Christine Daaé
* Viscount Raoul de Chagny
* The Persian
* Carlotta
* Madame Giry
* Meg Giry
* Joseph Buquet

Lloyd Webber
songs|

* "The Phantom of the Opera"
* "The Music of the Night"
* "All I Ask of You"
* "Learn to Be Lonely"
* "'Til I Hear You Sing"

Other|

* Adaptations
* Don Juan Triumphant
* Palais Garnier
* The Phantom of the Opera (pinball)
* Phantom Power (Rick Wakeman album)
* Return of the Phantom

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Works by Frederick Forsyth

Books|

* The Biafra Story (1969)
* The Day of the Jackal (1971)
* The Odessa File (1972)
* The Dogs of War (1974)
* The Shepherd (1975)
* The Devil's Alternative (1979)
* Emeka (1982)
* No Comebacks (1982)
* The Fourth Protocol (1984)
* The Negotiator (1989)
* The Deceiver (1991)
* Great Flying Stories (1991)
* The Fist of God (1994)
* Icon (1996)
* The Phantom of Manhattan (1998)
* The Veteran (2001)
* Avenger (2003)
* The Afghan (2006)
* The Cobra (2010)
* The Kill List (2013)
* The Fox (2018)

Adaptations|

* The Day of the Jackal (1973)
* The Odessa File (1974)
* The Dogs of War (1980)
* The Fourth Protocol (1987)
* Death Has a Bad Reputation (1990)
* The Jackal (1997)
* Icon (2005)
* Avenger (2006)
* The Shepherd (2023)
* The Day of the Jackal (2024)

Screen story|

* Cry of the Innocent (1980) (TV)

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