Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar

What It's About

This debut collection gathers the first nine short stories about Arsène Lupin, originally serialised in the French magazine Je sais tout from 1905 and collected in 1907. It introduces Lupin as a debonair "gentleman burglar" - a master of disguise who robs the wealthy and corrupt with wit and style, all while evading his most persistent pursuer, Inspector Ganimard. The final story pits him against a visiting English detective, a thinly disguised nod to Sherlock Holmes.

Key Concepts

Lupin operates by a loose code of honour, targeting the rich rather than the poor, which lets Leblanc poke gentle fun at bourgeois respectability. The stories turn on disguise and mistaken identity, and much of their pleasure comes from watching the police - and the reader - repeatedly outsmarted before Lupin's tricks are revealed.

About the Author

Maurice Leblanc (1864-1941) was a French novelist and short story writer from Rouen. He spent years writing literary fiction to little commercial success before he was commissioned to write a single crime story - the character of Arsène Lupin proved so popular that Leblanc continued writing about him for the rest of his career. He was later awarded the Legion of Honour for his contribution to French literature.

About This Edition

This is a 1910 translation by George Morehead.