Opening Passage: From the first story in the collection, "The Arrest of Arsene Lupin", which was also the first story published:
It was a strange ending to a voyage that had commenced in a most auspicious manner. The transatlantic steamship 'La Provenence' was a swift and comfrotable vessel, under the command of a most affable man. The passengers constituted a slect and delightful society. The charm of new acquaintances and improvised amusements served to make the time pass agreeably. We enjoyed the pleasant sensation of being separate from the world, living, as it were, upon an unknown island, and consequently obliged to be sociable with each other. (p. 1)
Summary: Arsene Lupin is France's (and the world's) greatest thief. A master at picking any lock, opening any window, forging any signature, he is also the supreme master of disguise, and in our first introduction to him, "The Arrest of Arsene Lupin", is so well disguised that that even the reader, with all the clues, cannot recognize him until he unveils himself. He is a master manipulator and grifter -- he is at least as likely to steal from you by arranging for you to give him the opportunity as he is to break in -- and we learn later ("Madame Imbert's Safe") that Arsene Lupin is not even his original name, but an identity he invented that he keeps using to remind himself of an important lesson. But perhaps just as important to all of this is that he is charming; if any thief can make you feel as if it were a courtesy and honor to be robbed, it is Lupin.
While this is a collection of short stories, it works very well as a collection; we start with Arsene Lupin's meeting with the potential love of his life, Miss Nelly, in the first story, "The Arrest of Arsene Lupin", and we meet her again in the last story, "Sherlock Holmes Arrives Too Late". "The Arrest of Arsene Lupin", "Arsene Lupin in Prison", and "The Escape of Arsene Lupin" form a trilogy whose parts are adequately designated by their titles, with "The Mysterious Traveller" forming a sort of sequel to the trilogy. In "The Queen's Necklace" we learn a bit about Lupin's origins; in "The Seven of Hearts" we learn how the narrator of the stories first met Lupin; in "Madame Imbert's Safe" we learn about one of Lupin's early failures and also the reason why he usually uses the name Lupin. I think one can see "The Black Pearl" as adding to our understanding of Lupin's character as a gentleman, which we also get more indirectly in "The Arrest of Arsene Lupin" and "The Queen's Necklace" and in snippets elsewhere. And of course, "Sherlock Holmes Arrives Too Late" shows us Lupin through the mirror of his equal and opposite, Sherlock Holmes, who is with Lupin the only one to discover the solution of a centuries-long mystery, and also teases the next book, in which they face off.
"Sherlock Holmes Arrives Too Late" is, I think, the most fun, followed by the original trilogy; I think "The Seven of Hearts" has the best mystery at its heart. But all of them are fun in their way, and filled with clever twists and turns of one kind or another, and are all very enjoyable.
Favorite Passage: One of the things that makes Lupin France's greatest thief is that he is also France's greatest self-promoter, regularly advertising his deeds in ironic and humorous ways. The following is from "The Black Pearl", in which Lupin is beaten to a theft by a murderer and takes his revenge in a characteristically Lupinesque way.
On the following day, this article wa spublished in the 'Echo of France' and was copied by the leading newspapers throughout the world:
"Yesterday, the famous black pearl came into the possession of Arsene Lupin, who recovered it from the murderer of the Countess d'Andillot. In a short term, facsimiles of that precious jewel will be exhibited 'in London, St. Petersburg, Calcutta, Buenos Ayres, and New York.
"Arsene Lupin will be pleased to consider all propositions submitted to him through his agents."
"And that is how crime is always punished and virtue rewarded," said Arsene Lupin, after he had told me the foregoing histor of the black pearl.
"And that is how you, under the assumed name of Grimaudan, ex-inspector of detectives, were chosen by fate to deprive the criminal of the benefit of his crime." (pp. 167-168)
Recommendation: Highly Recommended.
****
Maurice LeBlanc, Arsene Lupin, Gentleman Burglar, Fox Eye Publishing (Leicester, UK: 2022).
