​Gaston Leroux (1868–1927) was a French journalist and novelist, celebrated for his contributions to detective fiction and horror literature. Born in Paris, he initially studied law but later transitioned to journalism, where he gained recognition as an international correspondent. Leroux's most famous work, The Phantom of the Opera (1910), became a cultural phenomenon through various adaptations, including Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical. Another notable novel, The Mystery of the Yellow Room (1907), is considered one of the finest locked-room mysteries. His storytelling often blended suspense, drama, and intricate plots, earning him a place alongside literary greats like Edgar Allan Poe and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.