Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar

The inspiration for the new Netflix series, Lupin, starring Omar Sy. Leblanc's creation, Gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, is everything you would expect from a French aristocrat—witty, charming, brilliant, sly...and possibly the greatest thief in the world. The poor and innocent have nothing to fear from him; often they profit from his spontaneous generosity. The rich and powerful, and the detective who tries to spoil his fun, however, must beware. They are the target of Lupin's mischief and tomfoolery. A masterful thief turned detective, his plans frequently evolve into elaborate plots, the predecessor to such present day capers as Ocean's Eleven and The Sting. A turn-of-the-century surprise hit when he first appeared in a short story, Lupin was created in response to the popularity of Sherlock Holmes. These stories—the best of the Lupin series—are outrageous, melodramatic, and literate, and they sparkle with amusing banter.