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A review by jhbandcats
Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Thief by Maurice Leblanc
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had heard Arsene Lupin mentioned in the same context as Sherlock Holmes so, as an ardent Sherlock Holmes fan, I went into this with very high expectations. I should have known I’d be disappointed.
The Lupin stories show none of the discipline of Conan Doyle’s plotting. With Holmes, there’s always suspension of disbelief - you know these situations would never happen but you go along with it because the stories are so good. With Lupin there’s no reality within the stories themselves - Lupin ostensibly explains how he was so successful in his thievery, but it’s beyond unlikely. I could never believe it within the confines of the story.
Had I never read Sherlock Holmes I might have appreciated Arsene Lupin more but as it is, I found him an unlikable character and his exploits to be absurd.
The Lupin stories show none of the discipline of Conan Doyle’s plotting. With Holmes, there’s always suspension of disbelief - you know these situations would never happen but you go along with it because the stories are so good. With Lupin there’s no reality within the stories themselves - Lupin ostensibly explains how he was so successful in his thievery, but it’s beyond unlikely. I could never believe it within the confines of the story.
Had I never read Sherlock Holmes I might have appreciated Arsene Lupin more but as it is, I found him an unlikable character and his exploits to be absurd.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Violence, Gaslighting, Murder, and Classism