Arsène Lupin vs. Herlock Sholmes

Arsène Lupin versus Herlock Sholmes features two adventures following a match of wits between Lupin and Herlock Sholmes. The character "Herlock Sholmes" is a transparent reference to Sherlock Holmes of Arthur Conan Doyle's detective stories._x000D_ The first story, "The Blonde Lady", opens with the purchase of an antique desk by a mathematics professor. The desk is subsequently stolen, as it turns out, by Arsène Lupin. Later, both Lupin and the professor realize that a lottery ticket, left inadvertently in the desk, is the winning ticket, and Lupin proceeds to ensure he obtains half of the winnings while executing a near-impossible escape with a blonde lady. After the theft of the Blue Diamond, again by a blonde lady, Ganimard made the connection to Lupin and an appeal was made to Herlock Sholmes to match wits with Lupin. Inadvertently, Lupin and his biographer met with the newly arrived Sholmes and his assistant, Wilson, in a Parisian restaurant, and they shared a cautious détente before Lupin sets off to lay his traps. _x000D_ "The Jewish Lamp" opens with another appeal to Herlock Sholmes for help in recovering a Jewish lamp. After reading the appeal, Sholmes is shocked to read a second letter, this time by Lupin and arriving on the same day's post, which warns him not to intervene. Sholmes is outraged by Lupin's audacity and resolves to go to Paris….

Maurice Leblanc (1864–1941) is a towering figure in the field of detective fiction, celebrated primarily for the creation of the character Arsène Lupin, the 'gentleman burglar.' Born in Rouen, France, Leblanc originally pursued a law degree before turning to writing, initially focusing on poetry and short stories. It was the publishing of 'Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Cambrioleur' in 1907, however, that solidified his place in literary history. His satirical and amusing approach to Lupin pitted against the über rational detective, evokes comparisons to Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, who appears thinly veiled as 'Herlock Sholmes' in Leblanc's 'Arsène Lupin vs. Herlock Sholmes', a playful spoof that emerged from his playful literary sparring with Conan Doyle's work. Leblanc's 'Arsène Lupin' series, blending humor, daring exploits, and psychological complexity would influence generations of writers and establish a new standard for the 'caper' story. Leblanc's literary style is characterized by its elegant prose, wit, and labyrinthine plots, which continue to captivate readers and remain a staple of the genre. His contributions to detective fiction are immortalized in the beloved characters and enduring stories that emanate an intrinsic French charm.