MAURICE LEBLANC - “GRANDSON OF FLAUBERT”?

Abstract

Maurice Leblanc, Gustave Flaubert’s countryman, author of the famous series of novels and short stories about adventures of “gentleman-burglar” Arsène Lupin, from his youth had an interest in works of the author of Madame Bovary . The interest was shared by his sister Georgette Leblanc, a singer, actress and writer. This essay critically examins the early prose of Maurice Leblanc, its connections with the traditions of Flaubert and with typical for “fin de siècle” erotic prose of decadence. A special attention is paid to the novel A woman and its parallels and allusions to Madame Bovary . This essay shows the peculiarities of Leblanc’s description of Roune (against the background of a nagative perception of the city by Flaubert).