This brief story on NPR today reminded me of some books I read as a child (in Serbo-Croatian translation) - though I have to admit that my brother loved them even more - in which the main character is Arsene Lupen, the art connoisseur and gentleman burglar. Listen to the NPR podcast and get the books - they are great! How well known is this character in the USA? Perhaps through his anime grandson?
- Log in to post comments
Not very well, in my (urban, East Coast) experience. I only know of the character from reading stories in high school French class.
I can't belive it -you read both The Three Investigators and Arsene Lupin! Did you by any chance also read Emilio Salgari? He is the adventure storyteller for ages 9-14 in Italian and Spanish speaking countries, but virtually unknown in English.
All the Lupin books are available in Spanish and still reasonably popular taking into account how old they are.
Yes, I have read Emilio Salgari! Sandokan was huge in Europe in teh 1970s (played by Kabir Bedi in the TV series) so I picked up a couple of books as well.