Arsène Lupin Bonus: Arsène Lupin (Novelised By Edgar Jepson)

The immense success of Lupin not surprisingly spawned a theatre production and a play was written by Maurice Leblanc and Francis de Croisset which was then translated by Edgar Jepson who also subsequently undertook the novelization of the work.

In this book, Lupin has previously robbed the odious millionaire Gournay-Martin, but only to play Robin Hood and return the money to their rightful owners whom Gournay-Martin had exploited. Guerchard is the detective, is on Lupin’s trail and runs Lupin close.

The narrative progresses through the Duke of Charmerace, who is engaged to Gournay-Martin’s spoilt daughter Germaine. Is all as it seems? The duke seems to detest his fiancée and have a soft spot for Germaine’s beautiful secretary Sonia. Sonia herself has secrets of her own, but why is the Duke protective towards her? Why does the Duke personally encourage Guerchard’s efforts to find Lupin. It all comes together with a twist in the tail.

Edgar Alfred Jepson was an English writer, principally of mainstream adventure and detective fiction, but also of some supernatural and fantasy stories that are better remembered. He was editor for a short period of Vanity Fair magazine and was also well known as a translator, particularly of Leblanc’s works.