Marcel Allain
Marcel Allain was a French novelist and screenwriter, best known for his contributions to the detective fiction genre in the early 20th century. He gained prominence as the co-creator of the iconic character Fantômas, a master criminal who became a symbol of the era's fascination with crime and the macabre. The series, which began in 1911, was co-written with Pierre Souvestre and consisted of a total of 32 novels that captivated readers with their blend of suspense, adventure, and dark humor. Allain's work not only defined the character of Fantômas but also influenced the development of the crime fiction genre, paving the way for future anti-heroes in literature.
Famous Quotes
View all 4 quotes“The sound of that name evoked the worst horrors! ””
“What can I be thinking of? Just imagine my not having presented myself to you even yet! But as a matter of fact I do not want to tell you my name out loud; it is a romantic one, utterly inappropriate to the typically modern environment in which we now stand. Ah, if we were only on the steep side of some mountain with the moon like a great lamp above us, or by the shore of some wild ocean, there would be some glamour in proclaiming my identity in the silence of the night, or in the midst of lightning and thunder as a hurricane swept the seas! But here in a third-floor suite of the Royal Palace Hotel, surrounded by telephones and electric lights, and standing by a window overlooking the Champs Elysees-> it would be positively anachronistic!" He took a card out of his pocket and drew near the little writing desk. "Allow me, Princess, to slip my card into this drawer, left open on purpose, it would seem," and while the princess uttered a little cry she could not repress, he did just that. "And now, Princess," he went on, compelling her to retreat before him as he moved to the door of the anteroom opening on to the corridor, "you are too well bred, I am sure, not to wish to conduct your visitor to the door of your suite." His tone altered abruptly, and in a deep imperious voice that made the princess quake he ordered her: "And now, not a word, not a cry, not a movement until I am outside, or I will kill you!””
“As she slowly came to, the princess, fascinated, gazed at the card, and this time her haggard eyes grew wide with astonishment. For upon the card, which until now had appeared immaculately white, letters were gradually becoming visible, and the princess read: "Fan-tô-mas!””
