The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar

This book chronicles the exploits and adventures of Arsène Lupin, a burglar who blends effortlessly into high society, adapting a gentlemanly persona as a cover for his criminal misdeeds.

This classic crime caper established the antihero character of Arsène Lupin, who is the archetypal gentleman thief. A master of disguise, Lupin demonstrates an effortless ability to transition between high society and his actual profession of burglar. Charming and dapper to a fault, Lupin appears to his contemporaries as the consummate embodiment of a refined gent.

Using his wit, cunning and numerous connections in the upper reaches of the social strata, Lupin orchestrates a number of thefts which leave Parisian society stunned and flabbergasted. In this story Lupin steals a number of motor cars - at the time a rare, expensive and cumbersome haul - and a treasured family heirloom pendant.

Originally written and published in French, this novel was swiftly translated to English. Noting the parallels between his character and Sherlock Holmes, LeBlanc authored a later work wherein the pair meet. Arsène Lupin would feature in numerous novels, novellas and short stories over the course of decades, becoming a favorite in France and the wider world, with multiple adaptations created for television, film and radio.