The Elegant Criminal
On January 9, 1836, Pierre Lacenaire, a murderer and a thief, is executed by guillotine. He shares his life tale with the police inspector Allard, which he wrote while awaiting death. He also requests that Allard care after Hermine, a young lady for whom he has served as guardian for almost ten 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 confronts 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.