Literary in the City

RATING: 5/5

“Life itself, in fact, with its storms and its greatnesses, its monotony and its variety, becomes a sort of tragic epitome; and that, perhaps, is why we enjoy with a fevered haste and an intensified delight this short voyage of which we see the end at the very moment when we embark upon it.”

Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Thief

Sometimes, the best books are the ones you randomly pick off of a shelf.

I found this book about a year ago while I was perusing my nearby library. I remember being pretty bored with my previous few reads, and I was in the mood for something thrilling, adventurous, and witty. Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Thief by Maurice Leblanc checked all those boxes.

Our main character is Arsène Lupin, a thief who plans and carries out daring thefts. Along the way, he evades law enforcement and meets several eccentric characters. This book is actually a collection of short stories, each one following one of his heists. The synopsis sounds simple enough, yet the plot is anything but. 

Trust me, I have read my fair share of mystery, thriller, and suspense novels. I’ve encountered so many different plot twists that it takes a lot to surprise me. This book? My jaw dropped by the first chapter. And it continued to do so with every chapter I read. I always thought I knew what was coming next, but I never correctly predicted how things would play out. I was guessing up until the very end. Honestly, I haven’t found another book like this with so many surprises. 

The plot of this book is perfect for anyone who likes heist movies, such as Ocean’s Eleven (one of my all-time favorite films, by the way). If you’ve read contemporary heist novels, such as Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka, Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Thief is basically a classic, French version of that. 

I also fell in love with our protagonist, Arsène. There’s something so lovable about a cocky thief that is always one step ahead of everyone. Arsène is observant, astute, and confident. Despite his thirst for adventure and appetite for danger, he retains his polite demeanor and stays respectful. You can’t help but root for him.

With the recent release of the Netflix show, Lupin, this book has become increasingly popular. Lupin draws inspiration from the book, but it isn’t a direct screen adaptation of the story. It’s more contemporary and focuses on a different host of characters. While the show does have a slightly different plot, it keeps that same “Arsène-Lupin-spirit” throughout the episodes. Both the book and show are extremely enjoyable; I recommend judging them separately, though.

This story is truly a diamond in the rough. For all the adventure-seekers out there, this one is for you. If you’ve read the book or even watched the TV show, comment down below! I’m always curious about your thoughts. ❤

Until next time,

H.