The Phantom of Manhattan

The Phantom Of Manhattan

Author	Frederick Forsyth
Language	English
Genre	Thriller, Mystery, Romance
Publisher	St. Martin's Press
Publication date	November 1999
Publication place	United Kingdom
Media type	Print (Hardcover, Paperback & Mass Market Paperback)
Pages	177
ISBN	ISBN 978-0312246563 (hardcover first edition)
Preceded by	Icon (novel)
Followed by	The Veteran

The Phantom of Manhattan, a 1999 novel by Frederick Forsyth, is a sequel to the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Phantom of the Opera, itself based on the original book by Gaston Leroux.

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. Accordingly the novel can be read as both a tribute to the Lloyd Webber musical and a satire of period novels in the vein of George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman series (both a satire and exploration of Victorian history and stories).

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, make appearances. According to the story, Christine has married Raoul, and the couple have a son named Pierre.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, opened in March 2010, and is based partly on The Phantom of Manhattan.

Plot summary

The Phantom of Manhattan tells its story from the viewpoint of several characters.

The first chapter is related by Madame Giry. By this time, two decades have passed since the events of The Phantom of the Opera have occurred. Madame Giry is now old and on her death bed. She is being cared for by nuns in the hospital since she has almost run out of money. As she prepares to take her final breath, a priest comes to visit her to hear her confession. Madame Giry tells the priest of a time not too long ago, when she took her six year old daughter Meg to a fair, where she discovered that one of the freaks and oddities of the fair was a young boy with a face so disfigured it actually made her daughter cry. Madame Giry felt so sorry for this young boy and the horrendous way in which he was treated that she crept back to the fair at night and stole him. She took the boy to her apartment where she aided and cared for him until she had grown to love him like a son. Gradually the young boy confessed to her that his name was Erik and that he had been sold to the circus by his abusive alcoholic father shortly after his mother had run away with her lover. Eventually Madame Giry realized that her apartment would not be a safe place for the boy so she took him to the Opera house where she worked and he lived in the catacombs, over the years the boy became a man stealing books and other appliances to educate himself. Over time the opera company began to notice that the appliances were missing and the legend of the phantom was born. According to the book the later death of Joseph Buquet was, in fact, an accident. Madame Giry continued to explain how Erik fell in love with a young chorus girl who did not return his feelings. Driven by rage, Erik abducted Christine and accidentally killed the tenor Piangi (he was trying to silence him). A mob found their way to his home but all they found was Christine and the Vicomte De Chagny, Erik had in fact fled to Madame Giry's apartment. Knowing she could no longer care for him, she paid for him to board a ship that was heading to New York. Madame Giry then addresses her lawyer Armand Dufour, she tells him to go to New York and find Erik. For Madame Giry has written a letter to Erik that contains important and vital information for him.

The second involves Erik telling us of what happened when he reached New York. For a short while Erik lived in among the slums of New York in a shack. However he eventually met a man named Darius, whom he used to do his bidding. Darius introduced him to `Mammon` which was a mythological god of money. From that point onwards Erik hungered for wealth and fortune. For two years he and Darious made their fortune by scamming and conning people, however Erik heard of a man named Paul Boyton who was looking to open up a theme park in New York. Seeing an opportunity to get out of his miserable life in the slums, Erik and Darius arranged to help Paul build the rides and attractions that were to be included in the park. Shortly after, other businessmen heard of Boyton's success and commissioned Erik and Darius to design similar rides for them. Erik also invested in the stock market. In this way, Erik and Darius grew to become richer and richer until they had their own successful business and building called E.M Tower. However despite it all Erik was never quenched of his love of opera, after being rejected a private box by the Metropolitan Opera, he and a budding opera house designer Oscar Hammerstien had chosen to collaborate on one of the greatest projects of all-an all new opera house to rival the Metropolitan Opera.

We then see Armand Dufour, who has just arrived in New York and is looking frantically for the man named Erik. With little success, Armand has determined to return to France. However he decides to stop into a coffee shop to receive refreshment.

It is here we are introduced to a new character and the fourth narrator, a columnist named Cholly Bloom. Bloom happens to be in the coffee shop and spots Armand Dufour in a terrible state. Through the help of a translator, Cholly learns of Armand's mission to find the mysterious Erik and quickly realizes that this is an opportunity to get a good story, so he accompanies Armand to E.M Towers, where he demands to see Mr Erik Mulheim. However, is met by Darius who rather firmly insists that he will personally hand the letter to Mr Erik himself. As he awaits Darius' return, Cholly notices that the painting on the wall now has been replaced by a rather frightening figure in a mask. Cholly is shocked however when Darius returns the painting seemingly has gone back to normal. Cholly, confused and suspicious leaves the tower and heads back to his office, convinced that he has just had an encounter with the mysterious Phantom of Manhattan.

We then encounter Darius in the House of Hishash. He is in a trance like state and confessing his worry of Erik's changed behavior to his Master, Mammon. Apparently Erik has recently become obsessed with opera and Darius worries that he will not profit by investing in such an enterprise. Darius worries that he may lose his inheritance of the company if Erik proceeds. He also confesses to Mammon that Erik's mood has noticeably changed since he has received a letter from Paris. Since reading the contents in the letter Erik has sent his Hammerstien to Paris with a great sum of money to pay for two of the world's leading opera singers to come to New York, for the new opera house's opening. Dame Nellie Melba and Vicomtesse Christine De Chagny. He also has begun to furiously work on writing his own opera. Mammon calms Darius' fears calming that he should not worry but, rather threateningly concludes the chapter by telling Darius that whatever obstacle that stand in the way of his claiming his inheritance from Erik must be eliminated.

We then are introduced to Gaylord Spriggs gossip column, in which it claims that the whole of the opera world is in an uproar over the arrival of Nellie Melba and Christine De Chagny. The column reveals the vast amounts of money that were spent in persuading Dame Melba to cross the Atlantic to come to New York. It also gushes about how Christine De Chagny claim that she was coming to New York not for the money but out of her sheer admiration of the quality and desire to be a part of the newest opera `The Angel of Shiloh.` An opera whose composer is yet unknown.

Meanwhile on the boat to New York, 12 year old Pierre De Chagny, Christine's son, is about to undertake another lesson with his tutor Father Joe. It is revealed in this chapter that Pierre is incredibly gifted in Latin and History. Pierre inquires about Father Joe's history and he tells the young boy of his experiences in his native Ireland and the circumstances which drove him from home. The chapter ends with the boat just about to dock in New York's harbor.

As Christine and her son arrive off the boat, they are greeted by journalists and fans alike. As they make their way through the crowd, onlooker Bernard Smith remarks on New York's great admiration for the young singer and about the welcoming ceremony in which both Christine and the Mayor gave speeches. However in the midst of the excitement, Bernard notices something strange, on the roof of the warehouse opposite the docks, there is a man staring directly at Christine De Chagny, his face is covered by a white mask, but no one else has noticed him. However, when the figure spotted Bernard looking at him he disappeared. He then notices that a man has thrown his cloak on the ground, for Christine and her entourage to walk on, to avoid getting their feet dirty as they enter their carriage. This man turns out to be one of Bernard's own employees-a young news reporter.

Due to Cholly's act of kindness, he has been granted an exclusive interview with world renowned opera singer Christine De Chagny in her suite. When he arrives, he is greeted by Christine's young son Pierre, who is busy examining the contents of a present that has just arrived for him-a certain monkey music box. As the music box begins to play Christine De Chagny screams. The tune of the monkey music box is "Masquerade." Christine claims, `He must be here!` Cholly explains to Christine that the music box comes from Steeplechase amusement park. After which Christine, clearly agitated, demands to know where the park is. She then arranges for herself and Pierre to be taken to the park and for Cholly to be her guide. Cholly, overjoyed with the chance of getting an exclusive from the opera singer, happily accepts.

Meanwhile, Erik is still in shock at seeing Christine again. It is apparent that he still loves her but admits, although he realizes that their love can never be, he has reason to hope. For, Erik, has just received a letter from his old friend Madame Giry. It states that at one point Madame Giry encountered a young Vicomte De Chagny, whom through an unfortunate set of events, was no longer able to have children. The letter concludes that Christine has a son and that Erik is his biological father. Erik becomes determined to meet to Christine the following day, knowing that the music box he sent will alert her to the fact that he is residing in New York.

Later that evening, Christine De Chagny's maid, Meg Giry, recalls how agitated her mistress was after hearing the sound of the music box. She later recalls how many years ago she had seen first hand Christine's encounter with the mysterious unknown Phantom. She attempts to comfort Christine but admits that she fears for her and her son.

The following day, Taffy Jones, Steeple Chase's fun master, describes an unusual event that happened while he was catering to Christine De Chagny at the amusement park. He claims that he was trying to operate the hall of mirrors when the controls all began to malfunction almost as if they had been reprogrammed. The mirrors swung in a different direction to reveal someone whom Taffy could not see, but clearly knew that Christine recognized. He overheard the pair's conversation in which the unknown person claimed to still love Christine trying to convince her to go with him. She refused and after a brief pause asked Christine to leave him his son. Christine, shocked by his knowledge of Pierre agrees to tell Pierre the truth of his parentage in five years time. She then will give her consent for Pierre to go with him if that is what Pierre wants. However, the phantom does not like this arrangement and vows silently (not knowing that Taffy can hear him) to have the boy one way or another. At the same time Taffy notices another pale faced figure, who apparently has heard the whole conversation, run out of the hall of mirrors.

Pierre's tutor, Joseph Kilfoyle, is then shown having an encounter with God in the cathedral. God tells Joseph of Erik's past and that he is not a bad person but a tormented soul who can still be saved. As for his accomplice, Darius, it is too late for him and he has sold his soul to a man made God (Mammon).

We then move onto Gaylord's Sprigg's review of the new opera in which Christine is critically acclaimed, however, the lead tenor was replaced in the last act in which his character becomes severely disfigured and replaced by another whose voice matches the lead tenor in strength and clarity. No one knows who this mysterious replacement is. Later on at the after party the mysterious understudy is still nowhere to be found. Until news reporter Cholly sees him whisper something to Pierre (who also is discovered to be an amazing singer, he is featured in the opera as well) and then pass a note to Christine.

The final section of the book is told some years later, when Cholly is a lecturer at university. He is telling his class of the importance of being a reporter but also discloses to them the one story he never printed. It occurred on the last day of Christine De Chagny's visit, the Vicomte De Chagny had come some time after and he and Cholly had become friends. While he was awaiting Christine at breakfast, Cholly lets it slip that she is meeting someone called Erik in the park. The Vicomte is clearly shocked by this news and rushes out. Cholly follows and notices something else, a slip of paper he discovered, which Darius wrote. The note shows that Darius intends to eliminate the one obstacle getting in between him and his inheritance, Pierre. Knowing Pierre's life is at risk, Cholly rushes to the park also to warn Christine. When he arrives he hides behind the bushes in time to see the mysterious Phantom and Christine meet, while Darius prepares his gun. As the Vicomte and father Joe arrive, Pierre rushes out of the carriage and embraces his mother. At the same time Daruius shoots, however Christine takes the bullet for her son and is fatally injured. The Phantom, then spotting Darius, pulls out a gun and kills him. As Christine lay there slowly dying she confesses the truth to Pierre. The Phantom is heartbroken. The Vicomte De Chagny picks up Christine's body and tells Pierre he must make a choice. Pierre removes the phantom's mask and declares that he will stay with him. The Vicomte goes back to France to bury his wife and love.

The epilogue states that Raoul (the Vicomte De Chagny) never married again. Pierre and the Phantom stayed in New York and when war broke out they changed their family name and alerted people to the causes of deformity and injury due to the war. The New York opera eventually closed down but Hammerstein's grandson wrote many famous musicals in the 1950s with Richard Rodgers. Father Joe remained in the church and taught under privileged children.

Characters

• Erik Mulheim "The Phantom" - Former Phantom of Paris Opera, now become an important impresario from New York. He stumbles upon a secret so potent it will change his life forever.
• Christine, Vicomtesse De Chagny - Old Phantom's love and famous soprano. Is married to Raoul and has one son, Pierre. She comes to sing in New York invited by the Phantom unknowingly.
• Raoul, Vicomte De Chagny - Christine's husband. Is sterile due to a gunshot in the groin, and has raised Pierre as his own son.
• Antoinette "Madame" Giry - Former ballet master of Paris Opera, rescued to Erik from a circus when he was a child, and years later helped him out of Paris to America. On her death bed she reveals all the secrets.
• Darius - Erik's partner. Believed to be the heir to the fortune from the Phantom and becomes obsessed to destroy whoever stands in his way.
• Pierre De Chagny - The young son from Christine and the Phantom. Assumes Raoul is his father, but he doesn't know his real father. Admires father Joe.
• Charles "Cholly" Bloom - New York American reporter. It is proposed to discover the truth around the Phantom, and his relationship with Christine.
• Father Joseph "Joe" Kilfoyle - Priest and Pierre's tutor. Is Irish and is attracted to Christine in secret.
• Meg Giry - Madame Giry's daughter. Was a ballerina at Paris Opera, but a crash ended her career. Now is a friend and maid of Christine.
• 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.

Trivia

The character of Darius, or at least his name, may be based on a minor character in Gaston Leroux's original novel. Darius was the servant of a character named the Persian, who saved Erik (the Phantom) from death before the beginning of the novel. He was mentioned several times, but his largest contribution to the story was his bringing the pistols to his master and Raoul when they were preparing to enter the House on the Lake.

See also

• The Phantom of the Opera
• The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)
• Love Never Dies (musical)