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Arsene Lupin
Ars�ne Lupin (1909) is a novel by Maurice Leblanc. Originally a four-act play, the story was turned into a novel by Leblanc before being translated into English by Edgar Jepson. Partly based on the life of French anarchist Marius Jacob, Ars�ne Lupin first appeared in print in 1905 as an answer to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. Blending crime fiction, fantasy, and mystery, Leblanc crafts original and entertaining tales of adventure starring one of the greatest literary characters of all time--Ars�ne Lupin, gentleman thief.
Ars�ne Lupin is the world's greatest thief, an unmatched force for good whose exploits threaten the wealth and standing of France's most wicked men. In this early installment of Leblanc's beloved series, Lupin uses his remarkable wit and chameleon-like ability to move undetected through aristocratic society in order to steal, trick, and cheat his way through life. Despite his criminal nature, he operates under a strict moral code, only taking from those who have taken from the poor all their lives. In this novel, he comes up with an elaborate plan to get his hands on the art and jewels of a notorious collector, a man whose taste for fine objects can only be satisfied through exploitation and greed. As though the risks involved were not high enough, Lupin leave clues for police every step of the way, heightening pressure on himself and embarrassing a nation's incompetent leaders in the process. Ars�ne Lupin is a story of romance, mystery, and crime that continues to astound over a century after it was published.
With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Maurice Leblanc's Ars�ne Lupin is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.
Ars�ne Lupin is the world's greatest thief, an unmatched force for good whose exploits threaten the wealth and standing of France's most wicked men. In this early installment of Leblanc's beloved series, Lupin uses his remarkable wit and chameleon-like ability to move undetected through aristocratic society in order to steal, trick, and cheat his way through life. Despite his criminal nature, he operates under a strict moral code, only taking from those who have taken from the poor all their lives. In this novel, he comes up with an elaborate plan to get his hands on the art and jewels of a notorious collector, a man whose taste for fine objects can only be satisfied through exploitation and greed. As though the risks involved were not high enough, Lupin leave clues for police every step of the way, heightening pressure on himself and embarrassing a nation's incompetent leaders in the process. Ars�ne Lupin is a story of romance, mystery, and crime that continues to astound over a century after it was published.
With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Maurice Leblanc's Ars�ne Lupin is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.
196 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1909
394 people are currently reading
708 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Jepson
186 books11 followersEdgar Alfred Jepson (1863 - 1938) was an English writer, principally of mainstream adventure and detective fiction, but also of some supernatural and fantasy stories that are better remembered. He used a pseudonym R. Edison Page for some of his many short stories, collaborating at times with John Gawsworth, Hugh Clevely and possibly Arthur Machen, long-term friends.
He was editor for a short period of Vanity Fair magazine, where he employed Richard Middleton, and did much to preserve the latter's memory. He was also a translator, notably of the Arsène Lupin stories of Maurice Leblanc.
He was a member of the Square Club (from 1908) of established Edwardian authors, and also one of the more senior of the New Bohemians drinking club.
As a literary dynasty: his son Selwyn Jepson was known as a crime writer; his daughter Margaret (married name Birkinshaw) published novels as Margaret Jepson (including Via Panama) and as Pearl Bellairs; and Margaret's daughter Franklin is the writer Fay Weldon. The Jepson domestic arrangements are commented on second-hand in Weldon's autobiographical writing.
Jepson was friends with the English mystery writer Hugh Clevely and even shared the same pseudonym "Tod Claymore." They co-wrote the novel "The Man With the Amber Eyes."
He was editor for a short period of Vanity Fair magazine, where he employed Richard Middleton, and did much to preserve the latter's memory. He was also a translator, notably of the Arsène Lupin stories of Maurice Leblanc.
He was a member of the Square Club (from 1908) of established Edwardian authors, and also one of the more senior of the New Bohemians drinking club.
As a literary dynasty: his son Selwyn Jepson was known as a crime writer; his daughter Margaret (married name Birkinshaw) published novels as Margaret Jepson (including Via Panama) and as Pearl Bellairs; and Margaret's daughter Franklin is the writer Fay Weldon. The Jepson domestic arrangements are commented on second-hand in Weldon's autobiographical writing.
Jepson was friends with the English mystery writer Hugh Clevely and even shared the same pseudonym "Tod Claymore." They co-wrote the novel "The Man With the Amber Eyes."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
June 18, 2023
The story itself is fine in terms of the plot I guess, but it's not exactly memorable. Lupin’s pretty much absent for most of the story. Good plot twist at the end, just a bit of a shame we have to wait so long to get to it.
October 17, 2021
3.5 stars
I'm a little unclear on what this book actually is. The novelization of a play? Not an actual Arsène Lupin story? But also kind of? Something free on Amazon?
It is highly entertaining, whatever it is. At least initially.
The story follows France's infamous thief, Arsène Lupin, as he outwits his nemesis on the police and conducts daring raids on a millionaire.
The story combines a Robin Hood hero with an Oceans 11 heist vibe. I would consider the story an instant favorite if it wasn't for the ending. It just doesn't know when to end. Lupin is pretty obvious from chapter 1 but it adds to the fun of the story. But the heist comes off and things keep going...and going...going. And he loses his magical aura and becomes a mere mortal full of mistakes. Less fun.
But still worth reading.
I'm a little unclear on what this book actually is. The novelization of a play? Not an actual Arsène Lupin story? But also kind of? Something free on Amazon?
It is highly entertaining, whatever it is. At least initially.
The story follows France's infamous thief, Arsène Lupin, as he outwits his nemesis on the police and conducts daring raids on a millionaire.
The story combines a Robin Hood hero with an Oceans 11 heist vibe. I would consider the story an instant favorite if it wasn't for the ending. It just doesn't know when to end. Lupin is pretty obvious from chapter 1 but it adds to the fun of the story. But the heist comes off and things keep going...and going...going. And he loses his magical aura and becomes a mere mortal full of mistakes. Less fun.
But still worth reading.
January 28, 2021
i kinda found out this wasn't the real book only halfway through????? there was some high level of romantic dramatics which i really didn't like but otherwise it's mostly fun
March 20, 2011
Arsene Lupin is a master thief. He steals from the wealthy and obnoxious, after first asking courteously for them to hand over the works of art, jewels, or other items desired. Arsene is even thoughtful enough to notify his victim of when he will acquire the items in question, if the owner does not decide to go ahead and hand them over. He then takes those proceeds and gives part of it away to those who need financial assistance.
As this story develops one must try to figure out which character is Arsene Lupin, a master of disguise. Arsene has embarked on a bold scheme and matches wits with a detective who has made the apprehension of him the focus of his career.
The conversations and observations made by some characters are very witty and made me laugh at times. There are other Arsene Lupin books and I plan to read them all. I classified this as a mystery, but am not sure that would be the correct designation. It was a lot of fun!
As this story develops one must try to figure out which character is Arsene Lupin, a master of disguise. Arsene has embarked on a bold scheme and matches wits with a detective who has made the apprehension of him the focus of his career.
The conversations and observations made by some characters are very witty and made me laugh at times. There are other Arsene Lupin books and I plan to read them all. I classified this as a mystery, but am not sure that would be the correct designation. It was a lot of fun!
January 4, 2026
Simply cannot understate just how good this book is, my god. Every single chapter is so engaging and fun; the last few chapters genuinely had me laughing out loud.
November 20, 2021
Mystery, as a formula copied and pasted into mediocre books and scripts over and over again, has really started to bore me lately - the little that i consume, that is. But this book kept me entertained. The tension between Lupin and Guerchard was gritty and catching. The ending was satisfying to an old sap like me.
Note about adaptations — I listened to this on Phoebe reads a mystery, and it took me forever to figure out that this is a novelization by Jepson of Maurice Leblanc’s play. I know the Netflix series (which I haven’t watched yet) is just about a guy inspired by Lupin, but I think it’d be awesome to see a screen adaptation of this story itself. Like… à la Lupin meets Bridgerton… anyone??
Note about adaptations — I listened to this on Phoebe reads a mystery, and it took me forever to figure out that this is a novelization by Jepson of Maurice Leblanc’s play. I know the Netflix series (which I haven’t watched yet) is just about a guy inspired by Lupin, but I think it’d be awesome to see a screen adaptation of this story itself. Like… à la Lupin meets Bridgerton… anyone??
September 3, 2020
There is a moment early on in Arsene Lupin when the reader may warm to this story of yet another gentleman thief. We are told that Lupin has previously robbed the odious millionaire Gournay-Martin, but only to return funds taken by Gournay-Martin from the less wealthy, and return them to their rightful owners.
This would seem to pitch Lupin as more of a Robin Hood than a Raffles. Raffles was a wealthy burglar and ingenious, but he is essentially a downright rascal, and capable of sinking to low means to get his way.
Lupin is comparatively charming. He makes a virtue of stealing from the rich, and giving money to the poor. He despises the wealthy. For him, burglary is a game, and he improbably informs his intended victim of the date and time of day when he intends to take the items. From there, the fun is counting down to that moment knowing that Lupin will probably succeed, no matter how many police officers are guarding the items.
There are rules for Lupin though. He is partial to young ladies, and will seek to protect them from harm, or from being blamed for his crimes. He will not seriously rough up the police or his victims, and he will kill nobody. This is crime as sport, and something that belongs to a fantasy world away from the real ugly business of theft and burglary.
However there are limits to how far we should see Lupin as a defender of the poor against the rich. Many of the stolen items seem to be taken for the sheer pleasure of it. Do all these items go to help poor people?
In any case, once Lupin finally appears as himself in the story, we discover that his gang of accomplices are actually his faithful servants. Yes, it seems that Lupin is a member of the idle classes of the wealthy himself.
This casts a new glimpse on his targets in the book. Lupin is seeking to humiliate a capitalist businessman who values money for its own sake, artefacts for their financial value, and bettering himself at the expense of others.
Yet perhaps what Lupin really dislikes is work. He is a wealthy idler who has time and resources to plough into his criminal activities, whereas Gournay-Martin is a man who works for a living in the grubby field of business. He is admittedly an unpleasant man, and I doubt many readers will pity his sufferings.
A similar contempt comes into Lupin’s attitude towards the two detectives. Formery, the examining magistrate, is a man of little intelligence or imagination. He cannot even believe the evidence of his senses that Lupin is behind the crimes planned and undertaken.
Guerchard is the sharper detective, and he comes close to giving Lupin a run for his money at times. However the original author Maurice Leblanc and the man who converted this into a novel Edgar Jepson seem to share Lupin’s own opinion that Guerchard is Lupin’s intellectual inferior.
A successful criminal, it seems, has to be someone from the superior upper classes. There is no Sherlock Holmes figure here, though it is clear that Leblanc and Jepson would like there to be one. There is a sly reference to “Holmlock Shears, the great English detective” who was outwitted by Lupin, which is much as copyright laws would have allowed at the time.
For much of the book, Lupin is only heard about. We know he has robbed Gournay-Martin, and plans to do so again. The story is filtered through the Duke of Charmerace, an idle aristocrat who is engaged to Gournay-Martin’s detestable daughter.
The Duke has come back from a long absence abroad to marry Germaine, but seems to despise her and her father. He views their plight with amused contempt. He does seem to have a soft spot for Germaine’s beautiful secretary Sonia. Sonia has secrets of her own, and the Duke is protective towards the woman.
For much of the book, the Duke observes and encourages Guerchard’s efforts to find Lupin. It is evident that the Duke has the higher intellect however, and that he is more amused than concerned to find the stolen items.
When the plot twist finally comes, it will surprise nobody whatsoever. The more interesting wrinkle is the personality of Lupin when he finally emerges as himself. Far from being suave and amused, he is anxious and angsty, an exhausted man who is worn out with the effort of appearing suave and amused.
The story ends predictably enough, but that is hardly the point here. The pleasure is in the telling. Occasionally the minutiae of the investigation slows things down, but overall this is an enjoyable but undemanding book.
This would seem to pitch Lupin as more of a Robin Hood than a Raffles. Raffles was a wealthy burglar and ingenious, but he is essentially a downright rascal, and capable of sinking to low means to get his way.
Lupin is comparatively charming. He makes a virtue of stealing from the rich, and giving money to the poor. He despises the wealthy. For him, burglary is a game, and he improbably informs his intended victim of the date and time of day when he intends to take the items. From there, the fun is counting down to that moment knowing that Lupin will probably succeed, no matter how many police officers are guarding the items.
There are rules for Lupin though. He is partial to young ladies, and will seek to protect them from harm, or from being blamed for his crimes. He will not seriously rough up the police or his victims, and he will kill nobody. This is crime as sport, and something that belongs to a fantasy world away from the real ugly business of theft and burglary.
However there are limits to how far we should see Lupin as a defender of the poor against the rich. Many of the stolen items seem to be taken for the sheer pleasure of it. Do all these items go to help poor people?
In any case, once Lupin finally appears as himself in the story, we discover that his gang of accomplices are actually his faithful servants. Yes, it seems that Lupin is a member of the idle classes of the wealthy himself.
This casts a new glimpse on his targets in the book. Lupin is seeking to humiliate a capitalist businessman who values money for its own sake, artefacts for their financial value, and bettering himself at the expense of others.
Yet perhaps what Lupin really dislikes is work. He is a wealthy idler who has time and resources to plough into his criminal activities, whereas Gournay-Martin is a man who works for a living in the grubby field of business. He is admittedly an unpleasant man, and I doubt many readers will pity his sufferings.
A similar contempt comes into Lupin’s attitude towards the two detectives. Formery, the examining magistrate, is a man of little intelligence or imagination. He cannot even believe the evidence of his senses that Lupin is behind the crimes planned and undertaken.
Guerchard is the sharper detective, and he comes close to giving Lupin a run for his money at times. However the original author Maurice Leblanc and the man who converted this into a novel Edgar Jepson seem to share Lupin’s own opinion that Guerchard is Lupin’s intellectual inferior.
A successful criminal, it seems, has to be someone from the superior upper classes. There is no Sherlock Holmes figure here, though it is clear that Leblanc and Jepson would like there to be one. There is a sly reference to “Holmlock Shears, the great English detective” who was outwitted by Lupin, which is much as copyright laws would have allowed at the time.
For much of the book, Lupin is only heard about. We know he has robbed Gournay-Martin, and plans to do so again. The story is filtered through the Duke of Charmerace, an idle aristocrat who is engaged to Gournay-Martin’s detestable daughter.
The Duke has come back from a long absence abroad to marry Germaine, but seems to despise her and her father. He views their plight with amused contempt. He does seem to have a soft spot for Germaine’s beautiful secretary Sonia. Sonia has secrets of her own, and the Duke is protective towards the woman.
For much of the book, the Duke observes and encourages Guerchard’s efforts to find Lupin. It is evident that the Duke has the higher intellect however, and that he is more amused than concerned to find the stolen items.
When the plot twist finally comes, it will surprise nobody whatsoever. The more interesting wrinkle is the personality of Lupin when he finally emerges as himself. Far from being suave and amused, he is anxious and angsty, an exhausted man who is worn out with the effort of appearing suave and amused.
The story ends predictably enough, but that is hardly the point here. The pleasure is in the telling. Occasionally the minutiae of the investigation slows things down, but overall this is an enjoyable but undemanding book.
March 4, 2023
2.75
Hơi thất vọng vì Arsene Lupin trong cuốn này mất hình tượng quá, cảm giác như một tên trộm không chuyên vậy. Gì cũng vì gái mà thua cuộc, luống cuống… chẳng thấy tài cán gì mấy. Đáng ra chơi khăm thì phải chơi một cú nhớ đời rồi tiện thể lái cuộc điều tra theo hướng mình thích, đây Lupin cứ làm như tất cả là một trò chơi không mạo hiểm gì, rồi tự khiến mình rơi vào bẫy vì những việc không đâu. Tên trộm tài hoa đâu rồi???
Hơi thất vọng vì Arsene Lupin trong cuốn này mất hình tượng quá, cảm giác như một tên trộm không chuyên vậy. Gì cũng vì gái mà thua cuộc, luống cuống… chẳng thấy tài cán gì mấy. Đáng ra chơi khăm thì phải chơi một cú nhớ đời rồi tiện thể lái cuộc điều tra theo hướng mình thích, đây Lupin cứ làm như tất cả là một trò chơi không mạo hiểm gì, rồi tự khiến mình rơi vào bẫy vì những việc không đâu. Tên trộm tài hoa đâu rồi???
February 5, 2022
Suggestion: if you hear about a hit Netflix show based on a classic book series, go read one of the books first. Especially when it's available to read for free as a public domain book on Amazon. You won't regret this early turn of the 20th century witty and humorous French gentleman thief a la Robin Hood.
April 21, 2017
This is by far the best mystery/crime book I've every read. It kept me excited from the moment Lupin was mentioned till the very end. But I'm not satisfied yet, I'm hungry to read more and more and MORE about him. Didn't know he was a thief. He's more like Kaito Kid from Detective Conan. I loved who he robs though. That is very moral of him.
If you love detective, thrill and mystery - you'll enjoy reading this for sure.
If you love detective, thrill and mystery - you'll enjoy reading this for sure.
October 7, 2021
Read by Phoebe Reads a Mystery. I didn’t realize it wasn’t the original but enjoyed it all the same.
August 26, 2011
Monsieur Gournay-Martin adalah orang kaya yang terkenal di lingkungan kebangsawanan Perancis. Putrinya, Mademoiselle Germaine akan menikah dengan Duke Charmerace, Bangsawan muda yang kaya raya, eksentrik dan suka petualangan. Setelah sempat dikabarkan hilang dalam perjalanannya ke Kutub Selatan, Duke Charmerace kembali setelah perjalanannya selama 7 tahun. Pernikahan ini akan diselenggarakan secara besar-besaran, Sonia Kritchnoff, pelayan Mademoiselle Germaine bertugas menuliskan undangan yang bertumpuk-tumpuk banyaknya untuk para Tamu yang akan datang ke pesta pernikahan Majikannya. Germaine adalah seorang wanita manja yang tidak menarik, berbeda dengan Sonia, seorang wanita dengan kulit bersih dan terang dan dengan kesabaran luar biasa dalam melayani majikannya yang angkuh dan ketus ketika berbicara.
3 Tahun lalu, Arsene Lupin, seorang pencuri terkenal yang diburu oleh polisi Perancis telah mencuri Lukisan-lukisan berharga, hiasan dinding, lemari dan jam dinding milik Monsieur Gournay-Martin. Kali ini Sang Pencuri itu kembali lagi dengan mengirim surat yang memberitahukan bahwa Lupin akan mencuri harta berharga milik Gournay-Martin yang berada di Rumah Monsieur di Paris besok pagi. Kehebohan terjadi, Gournay-Martin yang trauma akan pencurian 3 tahun lalu kelabakan dan bergegas untuk pergi ke Rumahnya di Paris tersebut, apalagi di antara koleksinya juga terdapat Mahkota Princesse de Lamballe yang sangat berharga.
Tetapi keberuntungan tak berada di pihaknya. Mobilnya hilang, yang tersisa hanya sebuah mobil bertenaga 100 kuda yang kecil. Maka Duke Charmerace diperintahkan oleh Monsieur Gournay-Martin untuk berangkat ke Paris duluan mengendarai mobil itu. Setelah sampai Paris, Duke harus segera mencari Monsieur Guerchard, Detektif yang menjadi musuh bebuyutan Lupin dari dulu. Sementara Monsieur Gournay-Martin, Germaine dan Sonia akan berangkat naik kereta belakangan.
Sesampainya di Paris, Duke Charmerace segera mencari Monsieur Guerchard. Kejutan telah menanti mereka di kediaman Monsieur Gournay-Martin di Paris. Pencurian Lupin masih berlanjut, bahkan kehadirannya menjadi Misteri. Seorang di antara orang kepercayaan Monsieur Gournay-Martin adalah mata-mata Lupin, tapi benarkah begitu? Atau jangan-jangan Lupin sendiri lah yang menyamar menjadi salah satu dari mereka? Berhasilkah Guerchard kelak menangkat Sang Pencuri ulung itu ?
Sebuah novel misteri yang sayang untuk dilewatkan :)
Alur cerita yang cepat membuat saya betah membaca buku ini berlama-lama. Apalagi rasa penasaran yang ditimbulkan kalau sedang membaca novel detektif seperti ini. Akankah berhasil dicuri ? Siapa pencurinya ? Seperti apa Lupin sebenarnya ? Pertanyaan-pertanyaan itu terus menggentayangi saya waktu membaca buku ini. Sayangnya typo di buku ini masih bertebaran dan cukup mengganggu, juga adanya ketidakkonsistenan penulisan judul bab di Daftar isi dengan Judul di halaman sebenarnya. Buku ini terdiri dari 23 bab, tak lupa ada kisah romance yang mewarnai serunya perburuan Sang Lupin. Dan covernya, saya jatuh cinta terhadap covernya yang sederhana namun terkesan misterius ini.
Sekilas tentang Arsene Lupin
Maurice Leblanc (1864-1941) adalah pencipta tokoh Arsene Lupin. Seorang pencuri yang mencuri dari orang-orang kaya dan terkadang dikembalikan ke rakyat miskin. Ada 20 seri Kisah Lupin yang Leblanc tulis. Lupin pertama kali muncul di majalah Je Sais Tout, No. 6 tertanggal 15 Juli 1905. Awalnya ia disebut Arsene Lopin, tetapi seorang politisi lokal memprotes kesamaan nama tersebut, hingga akhirnya Tokoh Lopin itu diganti menjadi Lupin.
Di Negara Perancis, Lupin adalah seorang pencuri yang terkenal sepanjang masa, menyaingi kehebatan Sherlock Holmes di Negara Inggris yang keduanya saling berkebalikan. Holmes yang seorang detektif dengan Lupin yang seorang pencuri. Leblanc mengenalkan Holmes kepad aLupin pada cerita berjudul Sherlock Holmes arrives too late yang diterbitkan di Je Sais Tout No. 17, 15 June 1906. Setelah mendapatkan persetujuan Conan Doyle, namanya diubah menjadi "Herlock Sholmes" ketika cerita Lupin mulai dibukukan. Keduanya juga pernah dipertemukan di game buatan studio Frogwares, di mana pada kisah itu Lupin berniat mencuri harta karun Inggris yang berharga.
Di serial Detective Conan, Nama Lupin juga pernah muncul di dalam serial yang berjudul Lupin the 3rd Vs Detective Conan pada Maret 2009 silam. Lupin III disini dikisahkan merupakan cucu dari Arsene Lupin, ia seorang pemuda campuran Jepang-Perancis. Tokoh Lupin III ini sudah muncul sejak lama, tokoh ini diciptakan oleh Monkey Punch di Weekly Manga Action pada Agustus 1967. Meski menurut saya pribadi, penampilan Kaito Kid lebih mirip Arsene Lupin daripada kemiripan Lupin III dengan kakeknya -__-“
Arsene Lupin juga sudah difilmkan lebih dari 20 judul, diantaranya diproduksi di Amerika Serikat, Inggris, Jepang, Meksiko dan Perancis. Fil Lupin yang baru-baru ini dikeluarkan adalah pada tahun 2004 dengan dibintangi Romain Duris dan pada 2011 oleh Jepang dengan diperankan oleh Koichi Yamadera.
December 16, 2024
The two thirds of the book were really slow and hard to go through. But the last third was what i was expecting from the book.
March 20, 2015
A cheeky thief. A spoiled lady. A quiet assistant. A divided suitor.
A riot of characters come together to create a most unusual assembly that most solve the mystery of Arsene Lupin and his brilliantly executed plans that leave many a minds boggled.
I have heard a lot about Arsene Lupin but never read any of Maurice Leblanc’s famed stories. Once upon a time I had a spare time and no ARCs to read (that’s one for the books!) and decided it was time to chase down Lupin and see what all of the fuss was about. Annnnnnndddddddddd, having read the first book in the story I must say I still don’t know what it is all about! While the story was indeed clever I had my suspicions very early on and everyone here knows I like a story that keeps me guessing. The writing – I feel – was not very well-crafted either. Plenty of dialogue and such. Perhaps I am trying to hard to hold Leblanc and Lupin up to Arthur Conan Doyle’s writing style and Sherlock Holmes and it just can’t be done since they are all very unique in their own ways. Whatever the reasons I can’t say that I was very thrilled with the story. Not bummed enough to give up reading all of the Lupin stories just not anytime soon.
DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we did not receive any compensation for our review of “Arsene Lupin”.
reetchampionbookreviews.wordpress.com
A riot of characters come together to create a most unusual assembly that most solve the mystery of Arsene Lupin and his brilliantly executed plans that leave many a minds boggled.
I have heard a lot about Arsene Lupin but never read any of Maurice Leblanc’s famed stories. Once upon a time I had a spare time and no ARCs to read (that’s one for the books!) and decided it was time to chase down Lupin and see what all of the fuss was about. Annnnnnndddddddddd, having read the first book in the story I must say I still don’t know what it is all about! While the story was indeed clever I had my suspicions very early on and everyone here knows I like a story that keeps me guessing. The writing – I feel – was not very well-crafted either. Plenty of dialogue and such. Perhaps I am trying to hard to hold Leblanc and Lupin up to Arthur Conan Doyle’s writing style and Sherlock Holmes and it just can’t be done since they are all very unique in their own ways. Whatever the reasons I can’t say that I was very thrilled with the story. Not bummed enough to give up reading all of the Lupin stories just not anytime soon.
DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we did not receive any compensation for our review of “Arsene Lupin”.
reetchampionbookreviews.wordpress.com
May 3, 2013
Arsene Lupin series is my favorite detective series , unlike Sherlock Holmes Arsene Lupin is a thief who only steal stuffs from rich peoples and he solves cases like Sherlock Holmes , he is as smart as Sherlock Holmes , so people called him " Gentle Thief " , and many women is in love with him , but the one he truly loved was killed by Herlock Holmes ( It s actually Sherlock Holmes ) , in an accident .
When he was young he doesn't have a good childhood because his father died when he was young , so he had a hard life and he hated rich people because her mother worked for rich people as a slave and they don't treat her well , so he steal stuff and sell it and use the money to help poor people , it is like Robin Hood , and he is really smart , because the cops failed to catch him several times and even though if they caught him he always escaped ,and he sometimes helped the cops to solve mysteries , so the cops sometimes sees him as a friend sometimes as a foe .
I like this series because I'm a fan of detective mysteries books , and this is a different kind , and it is for all ages , so I highly suggest if you are a mystery and detective books fan you must read this series !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When he was young he doesn't have a good childhood because his father died when he was young , so he had a hard life and he hated rich people because her mother worked for rich people as a slave and they don't treat her well , so he steal stuff and sell it and use the money to help poor people , it is like Robin Hood , and he is really smart , because the cops failed to catch him several times and even though if they caught him he always escaped ,and he sometimes helped the cops to solve mysteries , so the cops sometimes sees him as a friend sometimes as a foe .
I like this series because I'm a fan of detective mysteries books , and this is a different kind , and it is for all ages , so I highly suggest if you are a mystery and detective books fan you must read this series !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 13, 2021
I was struggling with this one but when I found out it's actually a novelization of a play, it suddenly made so much sense. I think it would be much more effective in its original medium. So much of the tension is in these scenes where characters are trying to out-bluff each other and I can imagine how fun those scenes would have been to watch on stage, but the novelization made them feel kind of flat and boring, maybe because the author didn't embellish his descriptions of the characters' reactions very much, so they really do sound more like stage directions than trying to capture the specific way an actor might have performed the stage directions.
February 25, 2015
I'm reading the Indonesian version of this book, and I'm totally disappointed by the translation. It took me so long to finish a book that is considerably thin because I have to stop reading every two chapters in average. It is terrible.....ugh.
Note: This book is thrown away to the bookswap table at IRF 2014
Note: This book is thrown away to the bookswap table at IRF 2014
November 11, 2014
Smart thief.... He is described as a true gentleman, full of destructive and constructive ideas I would say about him. Still I feel amazed how he can be different characters in the adventures... Just love this book...
February 17, 2012
Very amusing and clever
June 30, 2021
This should be a happy time for millionaire Gournay-Martin. Not only is he one of the richest men in France, but his daughter Germaine is finally getting married to the dashing Duke of Charmerace. But there is a cloud in his life. Three years ago, the arch-criminal Arsene Lupin succeeded in stealing some of the millionaire’s treasures, missing out only on a certain coronet. And now, Lupin’s calling card has come, saying that he will now take even that!
Sure enough, by a combination of misdirection, inside men and disguises, Lupin strikes again! But he still doesn’t have the coronet. Can Chief-Inspector Guerchard unriddle the trick before the thief steals everything on his list?
It seemed about time to read one of the original Lupin stories by Maurice Leblanc (1864-1941) but as it happens, this isn’t quite the novel I was expecting. Instead, it’s a novelization of a play Leblanc wrote featuring the gentleman burglar.
This is most obvious in the “staging” of the scenes, confining the action to specific rooms with some of the more exciting potential action left to descriptions in dialogue. Also, the ending is much more final than most Lupin stories, suggesting that the thief will be a criminal no more.
Good: It’s always fun to watch a clever criminal at work–for example, Lupin’s warning comes just late enough on Sunday that the telephone service has closed for the night, preventing a quick response. And Guerchard shows his mettle by sifting through the clues and slowly lifting away the layers of deception to reveal the truth.
Lupin’s class-related motives are touched on; he steals because it’s fun, but he specifically targets the wealthy and powerful not just because they have the best stuff, but because of how shabbily his mother was treated when she was a servant. M. Gournay-Martin and his daughter value their treasures for their monetary worth, rather than beauty, while Lupin’s tastes are more refined.
(A running joke in the early part is the wedding gifts: Germaine gets gaudy jewels from her father’s friends and business peers, while the nobility gives tasteful and practical but relatively inexpensive items like letter openers and inkwells.)
Less good: The narration wants us to sympathize with Sonia Kirchnoff, impoverished Russian émigré and companion to Germaine, rather than the soon to be bride herself. It doesn’t trust enough though to Germaine’s spoiled, materialistic personality, but instead is at pains to point out how much prettier Sonia is as well. Early on, a reader might cringe at the indications that the Duke is way more interested in Sonia than his fiancée; not a good sign for the marriage.
The police, apart from Guerchard, are depicted as dolts, but this is fairly standard for master criminal stories.
This is not one of the truly famous Arsene Lupin stories, but it is nicely self-contained and in the public domain so easily located. (My copy had some datafile artifacts.) I’d actually like to see the play version to see how some of the stagecraft would be performed.
Sure enough, by a combination of misdirection, inside men and disguises, Lupin strikes again! But he still doesn’t have the coronet. Can Chief-Inspector Guerchard unriddle the trick before the thief steals everything on his list?
It seemed about time to read one of the original Lupin stories by Maurice Leblanc (1864-1941) but as it happens, this isn’t quite the novel I was expecting. Instead, it’s a novelization of a play Leblanc wrote featuring the gentleman burglar.
This is most obvious in the “staging” of the scenes, confining the action to specific rooms with some of the more exciting potential action left to descriptions in dialogue. Also, the ending is much more final than most Lupin stories, suggesting that the thief will be a criminal no more.
Good: It’s always fun to watch a clever criminal at work–for example, Lupin’s warning comes just late enough on Sunday that the telephone service has closed for the night, preventing a quick response. And Guerchard shows his mettle by sifting through the clues and slowly lifting away the layers of deception to reveal the truth.
Lupin’s class-related motives are touched on; he steals because it’s fun, but he specifically targets the wealthy and powerful not just because they have the best stuff, but because of how shabbily his mother was treated when she was a servant. M. Gournay-Martin and his daughter value their treasures for their monetary worth, rather than beauty, while Lupin’s tastes are more refined.
(A running joke in the early part is the wedding gifts: Germaine gets gaudy jewels from her father’s friends and business peers, while the nobility gives tasteful and practical but relatively inexpensive items like letter openers and inkwells.)
Less good: The narration wants us to sympathize with Sonia Kirchnoff, impoverished Russian émigré and companion to Germaine, rather than the soon to be bride herself. It doesn’t trust enough though to Germaine’s spoiled, materialistic personality, but instead is at pains to point out how much prettier Sonia is as well. Early on, a reader might cringe at the indications that the Duke is way more interested in Sonia than his fiancée; not a good sign for the marriage.
The police, apart from Guerchard, are depicted as dolts, but this is fairly standard for master criminal stories.
This is not one of the truly famous Arsene Lupin stories, but it is nicely self-contained and in the public domain so easily located. (My copy had some datafile artifacts.) I’d actually like to see the play version to see how some of the stagecraft would be performed.
May 21, 2023
I have been interested in reading the Arsène Lupin series for some time, and looking through the public domain offerings in Feedbooks, I saw that the cover art for this was labeled "Arsène Lupin 1". Thus, under the impression that I should start with this volume, I downloaded it and began reading. It was only when I was about three quarters finished with it, and feeling rather disappointed, that I did more research and realized that I was actually reading a novelization of one of Maurice Leblanc's plays by Edgar Jepson.
I finished reading it, but was rather irritated at the mislabeling. My edition listed Leblanc as the auhtor, and Jepson was only given as a translator. I'm relieved that I discovered the mistake, however, because if I had thought this was an original Leblanc work, I doubt I would have given Lupin a second chance.
The story is mildy amusing at times, but it suffers from what seem to me to be typical flaws of novels of this time period. The Scarlet Pimpernel, written close to the same year, also annoyed me in this way: the emotional reactions of the characters are always exaggerated to a ridiculous degree. So the millionaire Gournay-Martin is constantly either roaring with indignation, or collapsing from emotional exhaustion from being worried about Lupin's thievery. Sonia is constantly shrieking whenever she comes anywhere near to being suspected of anything. I really don't care for this kind of writing. It doesn't add anything to the humor.
It was pretty obvious soon on who Lupin would end up being, so there wasn't a whole lot of suspense, and there weren't really a lot of clever tricks involved that could either pique the reader's curiosity or impress with their ingenuity. The enjoyment in the story seemed to be presumed in nothing more than seeing how Lupin had already duped everyone, and how he watches the detectives bumble around while he's standing right in front of them.
All in all, it was not a good introduction to the Lupin stories. I've since started reading The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar, a collection of actual Leblanc stories, which seems to be regarded as the true "first" Lupin book. So far the caliber of the writing is much higher than Jepson's. I would not recommend this novelization to anyone except those who are obsessive about reading anything and everything associated with the character of Lupin.
I finished reading it, but was rather irritated at the mislabeling. My edition listed Leblanc as the auhtor, and Jepson was only given as a translator. I'm relieved that I discovered the mistake, however, because if I had thought this was an original Leblanc work, I doubt I would have given Lupin a second chance.
The story is mildy amusing at times, but it suffers from what seem to me to be typical flaws of novels of this time period. The Scarlet Pimpernel, written close to the same year, also annoyed me in this way: the emotional reactions of the characters are always exaggerated to a ridiculous degree. So the millionaire Gournay-Martin is constantly either roaring with indignation, or collapsing from emotional exhaustion from being worried about Lupin's thievery. Sonia is constantly shrieking whenever she comes anywhere near to being suspected of anything. I really don't care for this kind of writing. It doesn't add anything to the humor.
It was pretty obvious soon on who Lupin would end up being, so there wasn't a whole lot of suspense, and there weren't really a lot of clever tricks involved that could either pique the reader's curiosity or impress with their ingenuity. The enjoyment in the story seemed to be presumed in nothing more than seeing how Lupin had already duped everyone, and how he watches the detectives bumble around while he's standing right in front of them.
All in all, it was not a good introduction to the Lupin stories. I've since started reading The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar, a collection of actual Leblanc stories, which seems to be regarded as the true "first" Lupin book. So far the caliber of the writing is much higher than Jepson's. I would not recommend this novelization to anyone except those who are obsessive about reading anything and everything associated with the character of Lupin.
November 6, 2020
Arsène Lupin is a gentleman thief with a wicked sense of humor, buckets of charm, and a genius for planning. Several years ago, he sent a letter to the unbearable millionaire M. Gournay-Martin directing him to pack up the named items and send them to the given address, or Lupin would come and steal them himself. M. Gournay-Martin did not; Lupin did. Now, he is threatening M. Gournay-Martin again with the intention of stealing an immensely valuable coronet. M. Gournay-Martin's soon-to-be son-in-law, the Duke of Charmerace, takes a great interest in the goings-on and vows that he will help stop the crime. Mlle Gournay-Martin and her secretary/companion Sonia figure into the plot also, as the story fills with love, betrayal, deception, and greed.
This is the novelization of Maurice Leblanc's 1908 play of the same name by Edgar Jepson, and fits in before the Hollow Needle in the series. (If one reads the Hollow Needle first, as I did, the surprises of this volume may be spoiled.)
Jepson's writing is not as melodramatic or as thrilling as is Leblanc's, but the tale is still told well. Lupin's character is so appealing, that it's impossible for the reader not to root for him during the battle of wits between the Law and the Criminal. The romance of the story is only lightly touched on, but there is still a strong and touching scene between the two lovers. The plot is clever, and it's fun to see how Lupin works all the angles to create success. His daring and impudence, along with the plot twists, make Arsene Lupin a fun read.
This is an entertaining series, and I found Arsene Lupin enjoyable from start to finish, but I recommend that a new reader begin with The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin: Gentleman Burglar (1907), the set of short stories that introduces Lupin.
This is the novelization of Maurice Leblanc's 1908 play of the same name by Edgar Jepson, and fits in before the Hollow Needle in the series. (If one reads the Hollow Needle first, as I did, the surprises of this volume may be spoiled.)
Jepson's writing is not as melodramatic or as thrilling as is Leblanc's, but the tale is still told well. Lupin's character is so appealing, that it's impossible for the reader not to root for him during the battle of wits between the Law and the Criminal. The romance of the story is only lightly touched on, but there is still a strong and touching scene between the two lovers. The plot is clever, and it's fun to see how Lupin works all the angles to create success. His daring and impudence, along with the plot twists, make Arsene Lupin a fun read.
This is an entertaining series, and I found Arsene Lupin enjoyable from start to finish, but I recommend that a new reader begin with The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin: Gentleman Burglar (1907), the set of short stories that introduces Lupin.
March 7, 2024
I have adored the Netflix original series so I took it upon myself to purchase a series of 10 books about the clever and mysterious Andre Lupin, written by Maurice LeBlanc.
This first book, GENTLEMAN BURGLAR, contains a series of nine short stories centered on the escapades by Lupin. They’re all mini mysteries and I enjoyed the quick flow of them. I expected one long story so I was a tad disappointed but it still kept my interest and I hope book two will be better.
In any case I did capture some cool lines from the book:
ARSENE LUPIN IN PRISON
A person must have some diversion to occupy his leisure hours.
THE ESCAPE OF ARSENE LUPIN
It is to my own interest to surround myself with mystery.
“Ah! There are duties to society that one cannot avoid.”
THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER
“Of course, there are many strange coincidences, but you need have no fear.”
And I meditated; I plotted.
THE SEVEN OF HEARTS
A letter that I received this afternoon contributed, more than anything else, to my complete recovery, and aroused in me a lively curiosity.
“The simplest things are the ones that usually escape our notice.”
THE BLACK PEARL
“I require a cleaner brain. Mine is muddled like ragout.”
SHERLOCK HOLMES ARRIVES TOO LATE
“Everybody cannot solve riddles.”
“When I encounter an adversary…I do not take advantage of chance opportunities. I create them.”
This first book, GENTLEMAN BURGLAR, contains a series of nine short stories centered on the escapades by Lupin. They’re all mini mysteries and I enjoyed the quick flow of them. I expected one long story so I was a tad disappointed but it still kept my interest and I hope book two will be better.
In any case I did capture some cool lines from the book:
ARSENE LUPIN IN PRISON
A person must have some diversion to occupy his leisure hours.
THE ESCAPE OF ARSENE LUPIN
It is to my own interest to surround myself with mystery.
“Ah! There are duties to society that one cannot avoid.”
THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER
“Of course, there are many strange coincidences, but you need have no fear.”
And I meditated; I plotted.
THE SEVEN OF HEARTS
A letter that I received this afternoon contributed, more than anything else, to my complete recovery, and aroused in me a lively curiosity.
“The simplest things are the ones that usually escape our notice.”
THE BLACK PEARL
“I require a cleaner brain. Mine is muddled like ragout.”
SHERLOCK HOLMES ARRIVES TOO LATE
“Everybody cannot solve riddles.”
“When I encounter an adversary…I do not take advantage of chance opportunities. I create them.”
December 29, 2021
I was entertained by the story! The humorous tone added to the enjoyment of a mystery wherein a thief lets individuals know when and where they will be robbed and watches them scramble to stop it.
It receives four instead of five stars because of the ending. During the standoff between the Duke of Charmerace and Guerchard, I at first believed they were both purporting to be Lupin; think the Dread Pirate Roberts from "The Princess Bride." However, it then became clear it was the Duke of Charmerace who was Lupin. Additionally, the end left me wishing we found out what happened to Guerchard after Lupin took on his likeness and escaped.
Finally, do we think there is a supernatural element to Lupin's transformation into Guerchard? While it's clear he had a change of clothes and makeup, the following quote left me wondering:
"That done he looked at himself earnestly for two or three minutes; and, as he looked, a truly marvellous transformation took place: the features of Arsène Lupin, of the Duke of Charmerace, decomposed, actually decomposed, into the features of Jean Guerchard. He looked at himself and laughed, the gentle, husky laugh of Guerchard."
It receives four instead of five stars because of the ending. During the standoff between the Duke of Charmerace and Guerchard, I at first believed they were both purporting to be Lupin; think the Dread Pirate Roberts from "The Princess Bride." However, it then became clear it was the Duke of Charmerace who was Lupin. Additionally, the end left me wishing we found out what happened to Guerchard after Lupin took on his likeness and escaped.
Finally, do we think there is a supernatural element to Lupin's transformation into Guerchard? While it's clear he had a change of clothes and makeup, the following quote left me wondering:
"That done he looked at himself earnestly for two or three minutes; and, as he looked, a truly marvellous transformation took place: the features of Arsène Lupin, of the Duke of Charmerace, decomposed, actually decomposed, into the features of Jean Guerchard. He looked at himself and laughed, the gentle, husky laugh of Guerchard."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2021
I was disappointed by this book. I did not realize that I was reading someone else's novelization of the original works. If I had, I probably would have searched further for the originals and bypassed this version.
The book starts way too slowly for me. Granted, I do realize that this book is based on works written about 115 years ago when storytelling was much different. However, I have read books from that era that were much better and grasping the attention of the reader than this book did. The era is not crucial. It is the art of storytelling, and this author does not have that art.
All in all, after a slow start, the book never did pick up good speed. About two-thirds of the way through, the author did succeed in shifting gears, but by then, the author had lost the ability to really salvage a good story. The characters were not adequately developed and were totally underutilized. Then, all of a sudden, the climax of the story arrived, but the author was not done with the book. So, the author tried (and failed) to develop a second climax.
Not a good book.
The book starts way too slowly for me. Granted, I do realize that this book is based on works written about 115 years ago when storytelling was much different. However, I have read books from that era that were much better and grasping the attention of the reader than this book did. The era is not crucial. It is the art of storytelling, and this author does not have that art.
All in all, after a slow start, the book never did pick up good speed. About two-thirds of the way through, the author did succeed in shifting gears, but by then, the author had lost the ability to really salvage a good story. The characters were not adequately developed and were totally underutilized. Then, all of a sudden, the climax of the story arrived, but the author was not done with the book. So, the author tried (and failed) to develop a second climax.
Not a good book.
November 9, 2019
so, wie bescheuert ist das denn. ich hab einen BD in frankreich gelesen vor ner woche, der kam 2018 raus, aber weil er halt nur auf französisch erschienen ist bisher, findet weder der cover-scanner noch die buch-suche etwas. soviel zur gschissenen book challenge. nur weil du deine bücher nicht auf goodreads findest oder vielleicht superviele podcasts hörst die dich genauso bilden und unterhalten, kriegst du deine gschissenen vierzig bücher für die year challenge nicht zusammen.
also: arsène lupin. französische meisterdieb-geschichten. ganz ganz grosses kino. einfach ne ausgabe nehmen und lesen. mein erstes buch war 'l'aiguille creuse', 'die hohle nadel'. wer weiss wie das auf deutsch heissen würde gäbe es schon ('schon', die originalausgabe ist 100 jahre alt, lupin ist der gegner von sherlock holmes) eine deutsche version. aber wer ein buch über arsène lupin findet: lesen. ist super.
also: arsène lupin. französische meisterdieb-geschichten. ganz ganz grosses kino. einfach ne ausgabe nehmen und lesen. mein erstes buch war 'l'aiguille creuse', 'die hohle nadel'. wer weiss wie das auf deutsch heissen würde gäbe es schon ('schon', die originalausgabe ist 100 jahre alt, lupin ist der gegner von sherlock holmes) eine deutsche version. aber wer ein buch über arsène lupin findet: lesen. ist super.
June 23, 2018
This is my first reading of Arsene Lupin book. I've heard about this character for so long, and was eager to read. After reading this, I must admit I'm very disappointed. The story was too brash, too much luck involved, very unlike the neat and smart Arsene Lupin described by this very book earlier. Some other character was too vague, even his ultimate opponent M. Guerchard.
I've read some Sherlock Holmes, and was hoping this would be its rival : super detective and super thief. It started out promising enough, even some reference that Holmes couldn't nab Lupin (Holmlock Shears? A bit childish, IMO). But as the story progessed, Lupin's acts were pathetic.
Well, other books of Lupin may be better, but I lost appetite. Don't think I'd read another in the near future.
I've read some Sherlock Holmes, and was hoping this would be its rival : super detective and super thief. It started out promising enough, even some reference that Holmes couldn't nab Lupin (Holmlock Shears? A bit childish, IMO). But as the story progessed, Lupin's acts were pathetic.
Well, other books of Lupin may be better, but I lost appetite. Don't think I'd read another in the near future.
May 30, 2022
Arsene Lupin is a Robin Hood-like gentleman thief. He steals from the rich and helps those who need it. He is very clever and has been pursued for 10 years by Guerchard. No one knows exactly who Lupin is, and he is very adept at disguise. I am not sure exactly when it was published but it was on Project Gutenberg so earlier than early 1920s. I suspect 1907 but couldn't actually track it down due to variations in titles in translation. The book is almost whimsical in its portrayal of some of the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the beginnings of the Golden Age of Mysteries.
October 24, 2017
This is not a first book in the series or a story collection, but a translated (by Edgar Jepson) novelization by Maurice Leblanc of his own play of the same title. The play (and the novelization) is set after The Hollow Needle and before 813, and the latter has some spoilers for this play/novelization.
February 5, 2021
The first Arsene Lupin novel, bu tit comes after about twenty short stories. And its not a bad introduction to the character until you realise its juts a long form version of those stories, which usually do the theft, twist, prestige in about fifteen pages. Here you have to wait for about 80% of the book to pass before you get it confirmed who Lupin is, though everyone reading I am sure will have guessed it. But it works and has excellent bumbling detectives so...
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