Maurice Leblanc published a collection of short stories called The Eight
Strokes of the Clock in 1922. In response to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's
Sherlock Holmes, Arsène Lupin first appeared in print in 1905. He was
loosely based on the life of French anarchist Marius Jacob. Leblanc
creates unique and enjoyable tales of adventure featuring one of the
greatest literary characters of all time-Arsène Lupin, gentleman
thief-by fusing criminal fiction, fantasy, and mystery. The world's best
thief, Arsène Lupin is an unstoppable force for good whose escapades
jeopardize the fortune and reputation of France's most depraved
individuals. Lupin utilizes his amazing intelligence and chameleon-like
ability to slip unnoticed through aristocratic society in this first
book of Leblanc's adored series in order to steal, swindle, and cheat
his way through life. Arsène Lupin, gentleman-thief, appears in eight
short stories in this collection: At The Sign Of Mercury, Footprints In
The Snow, The Lady With The Hatchet, Thérèse and Germaine, The
Water-Bottle, On Top Of The Tower, The Case Of Jean Louis, and The
Tell-Tale Film.