When faced with the choice of true love or soulmate, not many people would know what to choose until the last possible moment. They dream of a romantic beginning and a happy ending. These are often found written in dark and twisted romance novels. One of the many favorites is written by Gaston Leroux, and is one of his best works, The Phantom of the Opera (Le Fantôme de l'Opéra), which is a notable example of the Gothic genre, which was popular in the late 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. Studying his early life, Gaston Louis Alfred Leroux was born on May 6, 1868 in Paris, France. He was the son of Marie Alphonsine and Julien Leroux. Leroux's grandfather owned a shipbuilding business in the small coastal village of St. Valery-en-Caux in Normandy, France, around the area where young Leroux (Merriman) grew up. This influenced Leroux's great love of sailing and fishing. Leroux attended an art school in Caen, studying the works of Victor Hugo and Alexandre Pere and writing short stories and poems. He later abandoned his dreams of becoming a writer to please his father and went to Paris where he graduated with a law degree in 1889, but lost interest in the profession after his father's death. He then sank into the world of alcoholism and, after having gambled away almost all of his inheritance, found work as a journalist at L'Echo de Paris and Le Matin, where he found inspiration for the falling chandelier, from one of the articles he wrote which described the events of 1896 related to the death of a patron of the Paris Opera House when one of the counterweights of the chandelier fell (Merriman). Between 1896 and 1901 Leroux married Marie Lefranc, but later, while in Switzerland... middle of paper... novel they can understand. In conclusion, the choice between true love and our soulmate, may not come until much in the future or hopefully not at all, but if it does, the decision still remains: would you choose true love or your soulmate. Gaston Leroux was one of the lucky ones; he found his true love in his soulmate, Jeanne Cayatte. "Gaston Leroux - Books, biography, quotes - Read press." Read the Print Library. Network. 06 September 2011.“Leroux, Gaston (6 May 1868- 15 April 1927)." Milestone Films - Welcome to Milestone Films! Ed. Scott MacQuee. Web. 16 September 2011.Liukkonen, Petri. "Gaston Leroux. " www.kirjasto.sci.fi. Ari Pesonen. Kuusankosken Kaupunginkirjasto, 2008. Web. 06 September 2011.Merriman, CD "Gaston Leroux - Biography and works. Search for texts, read online. Discuss." The Literature Network. Jalic Inc, 2009. Web. 06 September. 2011.