Eugène Sue (Critical Survey of Mystery and Detective Fiction)
Contribution
Eugène Sue’s most famous novels, Les Mystères de Paris (1842-1843; The Mysteries of Paris, 1843-1846), was the first novel to present a realistic portrait of the criminal underworld of Paris. Modeled on members of a Parisian criminal gang on trial for murder, Sue’s characters spoke the slang and displayed the callous attitudes of hardened criminals. Criminal activity was linked to social and economic conditions; Sue argued that many virtuous people became criminals as a result of their unfortunate circumstances. Sue also portrayed crime in more...
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