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Maurice Marie Émile Leblanc (; ; 11 December 1864 – 6 November 1941) was a French
novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while other ...
and
writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles, genres and techniques to communicate ideas, to inspire feelings and emotions, or to entertain. Writers may develop different forms of writing such as novels, short sto ...
of short stories, known primarily as the creator of the fictional gentleman thief and detective
Arsène Lupin Arsène Lupin () is a fictional gentleman thief and master of disguise created in 1905 by French writer Maurice Leblanc. The character was first introduced in a series of short stories serialized in the magazine '' Je sais tout''. The first ...
, often described as a French counterpart to
Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 â€“ 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Hol ...
's creation
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...
. The first Arsène Lupin story appeared in a series of short stories that was serialized in the
magazine A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...
'' Je sais tout'', starting in No. 6, dated 15 July 1905. Clearly created at editorial request, it is possible that Leblanc had also read Octave Mirbeau's ''Les 21 jours d'un neurasthénique'' (1901), which features a gentleman thief named Arthur Lebeau, and he had seen Mirbeau's comedy ''Scrupules'' (1902), whose main character is a gentleman thief. By 1907, Leblanc had graduated to writing full-length Lupin novels, and the reviews and sales were so good that Leblanc effectively dedicated the rest of his career to working on the Lupin stories. Like Conan Doyle, who often appeared embarrassed or hindered by the success of Sherlock Holmes and seemed to regard his success in the field of crime fiction as a detraction from his more "respectable" literary ambitions, Leblanc also appeared to have resented Lupin's success. Several times he tried to create other characters, such as private eye Jim Barnett, but he eventually merged them with Lupin. He continued to pen Lupin tales well into the 1930s. Leblanc also wrote two notable
science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...
novels: ' (1919), in which a scientist makes televisual contact with three-eyed
Venus Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is often called Earth's "twin" or "sister" planet for having almost the same size and mass, and the closest orbit to Earth's. While both are rocky planets, Venus has an atmosphere much thicker ...
ians, and ''Le Formidable Evènement'' (1920), in which an
earthquake An earthquakealso called a quake, tremor, or tembloris the shaking of the Earth's surface resulting from a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from those so weak they ...
creates a new landmass between England and France. Leblanc was awarded the ''
Légion d'Honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...
'' for his services to literature, and died in
Perpignan Perpignan (, , ; ; ) is the prefectures in France, prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales departments of France, department in Southern France, in the heart of the plain of Roussillon, at the foot of the Pyrenees a few kilometres from the Me ...
in 1941. He was buried in the
Montparnasse Cemetery Montparnasse Cemetery () is a cemetery in the Montparnasse quarter of Paris, in the city's 14th arrondissement of Paris, 14th arrondissement. The cemetery is roughly 47 acres and is the second largest cemetery in Paris. The cemetery has over 35,00 ...
. Georgette Leblanc was his sister.


Life

Maurice Leblanc was the second child of Émile Leblanc, 34-year-old ship-owner merchant, and of Mathilde Blanche (née Brohy) daughter of rich dyers, aged 21 and was delivered by Achille Flaubert,
Gustave Flaubert Gustave Flaubert ( , ; ; 12 December 1821 – 8 May 1880) was a French novelist. He has been considered the leading exponent of literary realism in his country and abroad. According to the literary theorist Kornelije Kvas, "in Flaubert, realis ...
's brother. He had an elder sister Jehanne (born in 1863) and a younger sister Georgette Leblanc (born in 1869) who from 1883 until the 1920s was an actor and star operatic soprano. During the Franco-German War of 1870, his father sent Maurice to Scotland. Upon his return to France, he completed his studies in Rouen. The young Maurice received his first education in a free institution, the Patry pension. Then, from 1875 to 1882, completed his secondary studies at the Lycée Corneille. As a teenager, he frequently encountered
Gustave Flaubert Gustave Flaubert ( , ; ; 12 December 1821 – 8 May 1880) was a French novelist. He has been considered the leading exponent of literary realism in his country and abroad. According to the literary theorist Kornelije Kvas, "in Flaubert, realis ...
and Guy de Maupassant. Refusing the career that his father intended for him at a card factory, Maurice instead headed to Paris in 1888, to pursue writing. First a journalist, then novelist and storyteller. His first novel, ''Une femme'' (A Woman), published in 1893 was very successful, and was followed by other works, such as ''Des couples'' (The Couples), ''Voici des ailes'' (Here are wings) and his only play, ''La pitié'', released in 1902, which is a failure, causing him to give up the theater for a while. In 1901, he published ''L'Enthousiasme'', an autobiographical novel. In 1905, Pierre Lafitte, the director of the monthly '' Je sais tout'', commissioned a short story from Leblanc, that was to be in the vein of A.J Raffles by Ernest William Hornung and the adventures of
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...
. The resulting "L'Arrestation d'Arsène Lupin" (The Arrest of Arsène Lupin) proved to be a great public success. Two years later, the book ''
Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar ''Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar'' () is the first collection of stories by Maurice Leblanc recounting the adventures of Arsène Lupin, released on 10 June 1907. It contains the first nine stories depicting the character, first published in the ...
'' was released, containing the first nine stories depicting the character that were published in the French magazine ''Je sais tout''. By 1907, Doyle or his representatives had threatened legal action over the unauthorized use of the character, and Leblanc's following collection of stories was titled '' Arsène Lupin versus Herlock Sholmes''. Maurice Leblanc received the
Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...
on January 17, 1908, presented by then Under-Secretary of State for Fine Arts, . While a supporter of French radical socialists and free-thinker in his early age, Leblanc became more
bourgeois The bourgeoisie ( , ) are a class of business owners, merchants and wealthy people, in general, which emerged in the Late Middle Ages, originally as a "middle class" between the peasantry and Aristocracy (class), aristocracy. They are tradition ...
around the time of the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. Leblanc would start to grow weary of writing Arsène Lupin stories. As early as 1910, he tried to kill his hero in the novel '' 813'', but would resuscitate the character in '' The Crystal Stopper''. In 1918, Maurice Leblanc bought a half-timbered Anglo-Norman house in
Étretat Étretat () is a Communes of France, commune in the Seine-Maritime Departments of France, department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy Regions of France, region of Northwestern France. It is a Tourism, tourist and Agriculture, far ...
(which he would name Clos Lupin), where he wrote 19 novels and 39 short stories. Hélène Rochette, Maisons d'écrivains et d'artistes, Parigramme, 2004, p. 183. Faced with the imminent war with Nazi Germany, he left Clos Lupin in 1939 and took refuge in
Perpignan Perpignan (, , ; ; ) is the prefectures in France, prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales departments of France, department in Southern France, in the heart of the plain of Roussillon, at the foot of the Pyrenees a few kilometres from the Me ...
, where he died of
pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...
in 1941. Disinterred from the Saint-Martin cemetery in Perpignan in 1947, he was reburied on 14 October of the same year at the
Montparnasse cemetery Montparnasse Cemetery () is a cemetery in the Montparnasse quarter of Paris, in the city's 14th arrondissement of Paris, 14th arrondissement. The cemetery is roughly 47 acres and is the second largest cemetery in Paris. The cemetery has over 35,00 ...
in Paris, alongside his wife Marguerite and other members of his family (notably his step-brother René Renoult).


Private life

At the end of 1888, Maurice Leblanc decided to leave Rouen for Paris where he married, on 10 January 1889, Marie-Ernestine Flannel (1865-1941). They divorced in 1895. By Marie-Ernestine Flannel he fathered Louise Amélie Marie Leblanc (1889-1974). Maurice later fell in love with Marguerite Wormser (1865-1950) who already had a son Claude Oulmann (1902-1994), who was subsequently authorized by decree to bear the name of Leblanc. Maurice had health problems and sank into a depression, which was compounded by Marguerite's divorce from her first husband taking time to go through the courts. Leblanc and Wormser did not marry until 31 January 1906.


Legacy

The "Association des Amis d'Arsène Lupin" (Association of Friends of Arsène Lupin) was founded in 1985 by the philosopher . Its members are sometimes known as "lupinophiles". Leblanc's work inspired Gaston Leroux (creator of Rouletabille), as well as Souvestre and Allain (creators of
Fantômas Fantômas () is a fictional character created by French writers Marcel Allain (1885–1969) and Pierre Souvestre (1874–1914). One of the most popular characters in the history of French crime fiction, Fantômas was created in 1911 and appeared ...
). Arsène Lupin's exploits took place in the capital and in
Pays de Caux The Pays de Caux (, , literally ''Land of Caux'') is an area in Normandy occupying the greater part of the French '' département'' of Seine Maritime in Normandy. It is a chalk plateau to the north of the Seine Estuary and extending to the cl ...
, which Maurice Leblanc knew well. Being a collector of postcards, he had listed no less than four hundred manors between
Le Havre Le Havre is a major port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the Seine, river Seine on the English Channel, Channe ...
,
Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine, in northwestern France. It is in the prefecture of Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one ...
and
Dieppe Dieppe (; ; or Old Norse ) is a coastal commune in the Seine-Maritime department, Normandy, northern France. Dieppe is a seaport on the English Channel at the mouth of the river Arques. A regular ferry service runs to Newhaven in England ...
. The "lupinophiles" roam the places mentioned in the intrigues of Leblanc in Normandy:
Étretat Étretat () is a Communes of France, commune in the Seine-Maritime Departments of France, department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy Regions of France, region of Northwestern France. It is a Tourism, tourist and Agriculture, far ...
and "the treasure of the kings of France", Tancarville, the underground passage of Jumièges leading to the medieval treasure of the abbeys, etc.


In popular culture

The Japanese character
Lupin III , also written as ''Lupin the Third'', ''Lupin the 3rd'', or ''Lupin the IIIrd'', is a Japanese media franchise created by Monkey Punch. The series follows the endeavors of master thief Lupin III (character), Lupin III, grandson of gentleman t ...
, first appearing in manga series ''Lupin III'' in 1967, was written as the grandson of Arsène Lupin. As this was done without permission from Leblanc's estate, this was later the source of a lawsuit, though the copyright on Leblanc's work has since expired. When the
anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
version was broadcast in France, the character was renamed ''Edgar, le détective cambrioleur'' ("Edgar, the Burglar Detective"). The authors of various ''
Lupin the Third , also written as ''Lupin the Third'', ''Lupin the 3rd'', or ''Lupin the IIIrd'', is a Japanese media franchise created by Monkey Punch. The series follows the endeavors of master thief Lupin III, grandson of gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, jo ...
'' properties sometimes draw on Leblanc's novels as inspiration; notably, the film '' The Castle of Cagliostro'' was loosely based on ''La Comtesse de Cagliostro'' (''The Countess of Cagliostro''). Leblanc and his gentleman-thief character are also referenced in '' Persona 5'', where the main character's persona is Arsène. During the game, the main character resides in the attic of Café Leblanc. Most recently, the main character of the Netflix series''
Lupin ''Lupinus'', commonly known as lupin, lupine, or regionally bluebonnet, is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae. The genus includes over 199 species, with centres of diversity in North and South America. Smaller centres occur in No ...
'', released in January 2021, used Lupin as an inspiration for his own grand theft. Inspired by one of the Lupin books, he tries to avenge his father's wrongful accusation of stealing a necklace years earlier. He decides to steal the same necklace from the
Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is a national art museum in Paris, France, and one of the most famous museums in the world. It is located on the Rive Droite, Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement of Paris, 1st arron ...
by mimicking the style of Arsène Lupin. Parts of the final episode of Part One were filmed in the town of
Étretat Étretat () is a Communes of France, commune in the Seine-Maritime Departments of France, department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy Regions of France, region of Northwestern France. It is a Tourism, tourist and Agriculture, far ...
. This location is significant because Maurice Leblanc lived in the commune. Some of the works were written at his residence there. The building is now the Clos Lupin Museum.


Selected bibliography

* ' (1893) * ' (1897) * ' (1898) * ' (1899) * ' (1901) * ' (1901) * ' (1904) * ' (1904) * ', Play (1906) *''Arsène Lupin contre Herlock Sholmès'' (1908) * ' ("The Hollow Needle") (1909) * ' (1910) * ' ("The Frontier") (1911) * ' ("The Three Eyes") (1919) * ' (1920) * ' ("The Tremendous Event") (1920) * ' (1922) * ' (US: "The Secret Tomb", UK: "Dorothy the Rope Dancer") (1922) * ' (1924) * ' (1925) * ' ("Man of Mystery") (1930) * ' (1932) * ' (1933) * ' (1934) * ' ("Wanton Venus") (1934) * ' (1935) * ' ("From Midnight to Morning") (1937)


Explanatory notes


References


Sources

* . * . * . * * .


External links

* * * * *
Le Clos Arsène Lupin
Maison Maurice Leblanc (museum)
Arsène Lupin site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leblanc, Maurice 1864 births 1941 deaths Writers from Rouen Writers of Sherlock Holmes pastiches Arsène Lupin French science fiction writers French crime fiction writers 19th-century French writers 20th-century French novelists Lycée Pierre-Corneille alumni Recipients of the Legion of Honour Burials at Montparnasse Cemetery French male novelists