Arsène Lupin, gentleman-cambrioleur

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

32854

Title

Arsène Lupin, gentleman-cambrioleur

Language

fr

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Maurice Leblanc introduces Arsène Lupin, the charming gentleman-cambrioleur, in this classic adventure. Blending wit, mystery, and high-stakes heists, the story follows Lupin's audacious exploits and his intellectual duel with detective Herlock Sholmès. A timeless tale of cleverness and style.

Summary up to 500 words

Set aboard the transatlantic liner Provence, the narrative unfolds as a high-stakes mystery involving the legendary gentleman-cambrioleur, Arsène Lupin. The story begins with the theft of the Countess de Dreux's valuable necklace from her cabin. The ship's detective, Herlock Sholmès, is summoned to investigate. Despite initial appearances suggesting a complex break-in, Sholmès deduces that the thief is not an adult but a child: Raoul, the son of the deceased maid Henriette. The narrative reveals that Raoul, driven by a desire to save his dying mother, stole the necklace and sold it to fund her care. However, the true twist emerges when the culprit reveals himself to be Lupin himself. Having returned to his childhood home in France, Lupin orchestrated the events not merely for theft, but as a dramatic gesture of justice and revenge against those who had wronged his mother's memory. The investigation moves from the ship to the French château where the Countess resides. Sholmès tracks Lupin through a labyrinthine underground passage hidden behind a bookshelf in the library. This secret mechanism, involving movable letters spelling "Thibermesnil," allows access to a hidden chamber and eventually leads to a ruined chapel, proving the depth of Lupin's knowledge and engineering prowess. Upon discovering the secret passage, Sholmès realizes that Lupin has already returned the stolen goods and left his own stolen watch as a token of respect. The story concludes with Sholmès acknowledging Lupin as a worthy adversary. Rather than arresting him, Sholmès accepts the challenge, recognizing that their paths are destined to cross again in a world too small for such brilliant minds to remain apart. The tale blends elements of detective fiction with romantic adventure, portraying Lupin not as a common criminal, but as a charming, artistic dilettante who operates by his own moral code.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg32854.epub

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Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction
• Mystery