The Blonde Lady
Being a Record of the Duel of Wits between Arsène Lupin and the English Detective
The Blonde Lady, translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos in 1910, collects two linked adventures in which Maurice Leblanc pits his gentleman thief Arsène Lupin against a famous English detective, called here Holmlock Shears. In the first and longer story, a winning lottery ticket, a stolen blue diamond and a series of baffling disappearances in Paris all seem to involve a mysterious blonde woman, and Shears crosses the Channel to match wits with Lupin, with kidnappings, disguises and narrow escapes on both sides. In the second, The Jewish Lamp, the two meet again over the theft of an antique lamp. Leblanc plays the rivalry for comedy as well as suspense, and Lupin's charm usually wins. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Blonde Lady
The Blonde Lady by Maurice Leblanc can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Blonde Lady online?
Yes. The Blonde Lady opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Blonde Lady free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Blonde Lady is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Blonde Lady in the public domain?
Yes. The Blonde Lady by Maurice Leblanc is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Blonde Lady?
About 4 h 10 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Blonde Lady?
The Blonde Lady by Maurice Leblanc is filed under "Mystery" in the Vinteuil library.
