"Arsène Lupin: Gentleman Thief" - Summary

Arsène Lupin is an adventure crime novel written by French author Maurice Leblanc and first published in serial form in 1905. Leblanc (1864-1941) was a mystery and thriller writer best known as the creator of the fictional gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, often considered early literature's first modern anti-hero.

The novel follows the cunning exploits of Arsène Lupin, a charming and debonair burglar who takes on the Parisian police with a mix of cleverness and audacity. Lupin is a lover of fine living, beautiful women, and most importantly, the unsolvable mystery. As a self-proclaimed "gentleman burglar," he maintains a moral code while he orchestrates seemingly impossible heists, usually robberies of the extremely wealthy. Pursued relentlessly by his frequent nemesis Detective Guerchard, Lupin nevertheless stays perpetually one step ahead with ingenious escapes aided by disguises and misdirection.

Over twenty serialized stories comprising various thefts, close shaves with the law, and even a secret Bismarck treasure map leading to underwater gold, the iconic Lupin character grew tremendously popular in early 20th century Europe. Known for signature calling cards left behind at his crime scenes teasing the authorities, Lupin's cunning and panache represent an early prototype for later gentleman thieves like Simon Templar and Bruce Wayne. The original book remains most famous for spawning Lupin’s enduring mystique as a heroic outlaw outwitting his oppressors, reflected through countless future incarnations in various media over the following decades. Though presented sympathically, Lupin nonetheless represents a complex moral figure occupying the boundaries between right and wrong, hero and villain, order and chaos.