The Original Gentleman Thief

These are the first tales of the legendary thief, Arsene Lupin. I'm not very familiar with French literature, but this collection gave me the same feeling as reading some good Victorian literature. If you're a fan of that genre, heist movies, or the Lupin III anime series you should enjoy this.

Each adventure is as unique as the treasures Lupin steals and the French prose is gorgeously translated. Sherlock Holmes fans are especially in for a treat. Finally, B.J. Harrison is excellent as a narrator. Very highly recommended!

16 people found this helpful

Outstanding!

If you could sum up The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin, Gentleman Burglar [Classic Tales Edition] in three words, what would they be?

Excellent quality reading

Any additional comments?

There is plenty of info on Maurice LeBlanc's Lupin series available online so I'll leave this to the quality of the product itself.
If it was at all possible I'd give this ten stars. I've been listening to audiobooks for ages. Professional ones, hobbyist ones, Librivox ones, computer generated ones... This is really one of the most enjoyable listens I've had. B. J. Harrison really caught the mood and tenor of the Arsene Lupin stories. While sometimes an audiobook can be a slog to get through because I just wind up wanting to find out what happens next, despite the reader... in the case of these stories, I look forward to the next chance I get to listen to them with joy.
B. J. has also read the the crossover book Arsene Lupin vs Sherlock Holmes, which I'll eagerly listen to next.
If you are out there reading this reveiw, Mr. Harrison, might I request adding to this collection with The Hollow Needle, which is distantly related to Lupin vs Holmes... or La Comtesse de Cagliostro (Memoirs of Arsene Lupin) which IMO is one of the finest Lupin stories written?
Thank you for doing these, they are really a treat!

12 people found this helpful

Over 100 years old and still amazing

I could never have expected that this book that was released in 1907 would still hold up today. In the past I tried to read Sherlock Holmes and found it a chore the same at times with some lesser grade Poirot stories, but this one is beyond amazing. I was actually fooled by the twist in the first story I should have seen it coming but I didn't.
Lupin himself isn't a alright perfect being with no character he is human with desires and wants and a personality that feeds on our own most selfish fantasies and I never tire of his narration or his exuberance for life. When Sherlock Holmes fails he refuses to ever talk about it again and grumbles if he is reminded of it, Poirot never fails but still he is humble and kind in spite of his egotism, when Lupin fails he tells his best friend about it and they both laugh at the stupidity of it all

I love this book an insane amount

8 people found this helpful

BJ Harrison is absolutely the best narrator

BJ Harrison is absolutely the best narrator I have ever heard. Great job. Loved the book

7 people found this helpful

An interesting listen!

A companion for those of us enjoying “Lupin” on Netflix. The French Arsene Lupin tales are new to me.

3 people found this helpful

Love it

Like many, I have started reading these books because of the Omar Sy, Netflix series, Lupin. Also bought the books to read along. Light, easy & at times even funny. Narrator does an extremely well job with all the characters also. Well done!

1 person found this helpful

An interesting and creative set

Interesting and creative stories. Sometimes hard to follow but nevertheless captivating. The closing story was a real winner.

1 person found this helpful

A classic group of short stories

While I can't say I enjoyed every short story in the said collection, I can say in good faith. The way this book was translated and Maurice Leblance's own writing talents make it a joy to the ears in terms of wording and the rhythm of the stories, if that final state makes any sense lol

A French classic brought to life.

While my interest in the stories themselves waned in and out, the amazing performance by B.J. Harrison helped keep my attention throughout. Chapter 1, 2, and 9 are definitely the strongest, with the Seven of Hearts being the weakest, in my opinion.

loved this narrator!

I am sometimes easily distracted while listening to audiobooks, especially because I tend to be doing other tasks. I found these stories easy to follow, even if I had "zoned out" for a bit. The performance by the narrator was just excellent. His grasp for accents and voices allowed him to seamlessly move between characters in a way that was not distracting and kept me immersed in the story.