pIThe Man With the Black FeatherI 1909 is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. Originally a journalist Leroux turned to fiction after reading the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe. His most famous work IThe Phantom of the OperaI has become legendary through several adaptations for film theater and television including Andrew Lloyd Webbers celebrated 1886 Broadway musical of the same name.p pWalking into his office one morning a journalist discovers a stranger waiting there for him. Holding an ornate wooden box he reveals himself to be the executor of M. Thophraste Longuet a deceased manufacturer and a former acquaintance of the journalist. Suspicious at first the journalist accepts the box opening it to reveal the voluminous memoirs of Longuet. Within their pages presumably unread by anyone else Longuet describes his discovery of documents revealing that he is in fact the reincarnation of infamous French highwayman Louis Dominique Cartouche a vigilante figure who haunted the roads of 18th century France in order to steal from the rich and give their wealth to the poor. Skeptical the journalist reads the memoirs which lead him to the legendary Treasure of Cartouche virtually ensuring the accuracy of Longuets claims. Assured of their worth to the public the journalist convinces his editors to release their discovery to the world. IThe Man With the Black FeatherI which is also known by the title IThe Double LifeI is a mystery novel by Gaston Leroux one of the leading French detective writers of his generation. Like much of Lerouxs work the novel is partly based on historical eventsCartouche was an actual figure whose campaign of thievery and charity came to an abrupt end with his brutal public execution in 1721.p pWith a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript this edition of Gaston Lerouxs IThe Man With the Black FeatherI is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.p