Maurice Leblanc published a collection of short stories called The Eight Strokes of the Clock in 1922. In response to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, Arsène Lupin first appeared in print in 1905. He was loosely based on the life of French anarchist Marius Jacob. Leblanc creates unique and enjoyable tales of adventure featuring one of the greatest literary characters of all time—Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief—by fusing criminal fiction, fantasy, and mystery. The world's best thief, Arsène Lupin is an unstoppable force for good whose escapades jeopardize the fortune and reputation of France's most depraved individuals. Lupin utilizes his amazing intelligence and chameleon-like ability to slip unnoticed through aristocratic society in this first book of Leblanc's adored series in order to steal, swindle, and cheat his way through life. Arsène Lupin, gentleman-thief, appears in eight short stories in this collection: At The Sign Of Mercury, Footprints In The Snow, The Lady With The Hatchet, Thérèse and Germaine, The Water-Bottle, On Top Of The Tower, The Case Of Jean Louis, and The Tell-Tale Film.