LARGE PRINT EDITION. The Perfume of the Lady in Black (1908) is a
novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. The Perfume of the Lady in Black
marked the second appearance of popular character Joseph Rouletabille, a
reporter and part-time sleuth who features in several of Leroux's
novels. Originally a journalist, Leroux turned to fiction after reading
the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe. Often considered
one of the best mysteries of all time, the novel has been adapted
several times for film. Joseph Rouletabille is more than meets the eye.
A reporter by profession, he spends his free time working as an amateur
detective, using his journalistic talents to compile facts and track
down leads. In The Mystery of the Yellow Room, he saved the life of
Mathilde Stangerson, the daughter of a prominent professor, from the
clutches of Ballmeyer, a violent criminal mastermind gifted in the art
of disguise. Unbeknownst to her father, Mathilde had married Ballmeyer
while living in America before realizing he had been living under a
false identity. Now believed to be dead, Ballmeyer fades into history as
Rouletabille, his assistant Sainclair, and Mathilde return to their
lives. Shortly after leaving for her honeymoon with Robert Darzac,
however, Mathilde contacts Rouletabille with terrifying news-their
common enemy seems to have returned. The Perfume of the Lady in Black
is a story of mystery and suspense from one of history's finest
detective novelists. Joseph Rouletabille is without a doubt France's
answer to Sherlock Holmes. With a beautifully designed cover and
professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Gaston Leroux's The
Perfume of the Lady in Black is a classic of French literature
reimagined for modern readers.
