The Elegant Criminal
Pierre Lacenaire, a murderer and a thief, is executed on January9, 1836. He shares his life tale, written while awaiting death, with the police inspector Allard. In addition, he requests that Allard take care of Hermine, a young lady for whom he has been guardian for more than 10 years. In flashbacks, from the prison as Lacenaire writes, from Allard's study as he and Hermine read, and from other readers' memories after the book is published, we see Lacenaire's childhood as he stands up to bullies, including priests, his youthful thieving, his first murder, his brief army career, and his affair with Avril, a young man who dies beside him.