Across books · Theme
Identity and Disguise
The book is saturated with characters adopting false identities, disguises, and aliases—most notably Arsène Lupin himself, who appears as Prince Sernine, M. Lenormand, and others—exploring the fluidity of self and the power of deception in a world of crime and intrigue.
Identity and Disguise appears as a literary theme in 33 works in the BetterReads curated set. Each book develops the idea in its own plot, voice, and historical moment — the links below open the book-scoped theme guide beside the text.
The book is saturated with characters adopting false identities, disguises, and aliases—most notably Arsène Lupin himself, who appears as Prince Sernine, M. Lenormand, and others—exploring the fluidity of self and the power of deception in a world of crime and intrigue.
Characters frequently adopt false identities, disguises, and secret personas, such as Lupin's transformations and the 'Blonde Lady' being revealed as Clotilde Destange, highlighting the theme of deception and hidden selves.
Beauvallet adopts the alias 'Chevalier de Guise' to move through Spain, and the theme of hidden identity creates suspense, as characters question who is truly a pirate, a nobleman, or a lover.
Characters frequently assume false names, change appearances (such as hair color), or conceal their pasts, as seen with Eve Durand/Jennie Jerome/Grace Lane, highlighting themes of reinvention and the difficulty of knowing someone's true self.
Characters assume false identities or are mistaken for others, such as Imogen disguised as Fidele, the lost princes raised in obscurity, and Posthumus's hidden nobility, highlighting the fluidity of self.
The Scarlet Pimpernel's secret identity as a heroic rescuer contrasts with his public persona, while characters adopt disguises (e.g., Armand as a laborer) to navigate danger, highlighting the theme of hidden selves in a time of political upheaval.
In each book
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The book is saturated with characters adopting false identities, disguises, and aliases—most notably Arsène Lupin himself, who appears as Prince Sernine, M. Lenormand, and others—exploring the fluidity of self and the po
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Arsène Lupin Versus Herlock Sholmes
Characters frequently adopt false identities, disguises, and secret personas, such as Lupin's transformations and the 'Blonde Lady' being revealed as Clotilde Destange, highlighting the theme of deception and hidden selv
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Beauvallet
Beauvallet adopts the alias 'Chevalier de Guise' to move through Spain, and the theme of hidden identity creates suspense, as characters question who is truly a pirate, a nobleman, or a lover.
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Behind That Curtain
Characters frequently assume false names, change appearances (such as hair color), or conceal their pasts, as seen with Eve Durand/Jennie Jerome/Grace Lane, highlighting themes of reinvention and the difficulty of knowin
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Cymbeline
Characters assume false identities or are mistaken for others, such as Imogen disguised as Fidele, the lost princes raised in obscurity, and Posthumus's hidden nobility, highlighting the fluidity of self.
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El Dorado
The Scarlet Pimpernel's secret identity as a heroic rescuer contrasts with his public persona, while characters adopt disguises (e.g., Armand as a laborer) to navigate danger, highlighting the theme of hidden selves in a
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Hand and Ring
Characters conceal or misrepresent their identities, from Imogene's foundling origins to detectives assuming roles and the confusion over Craik Mansell's true identity, reflecting the theme of who people really are versu
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Michael Strogoff
Michael's use of a false identity as merchant Nicholas Korpanoff and his feigned blindness are crucial to his survival, exploring how hidden identity enables resistance against oppressive forces.
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Moll Flanders
Moll constantly conceals her true name, adopts multiple aliases, and disguises herself to commit crimes, reflecting the theme of shifting identity as a survival strategy in a judgmental society.
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No Name
Characters adopt false names and appearances (e.g., Magdalen as 'Miss Bygrave,' Captain Wragge's use of 'skins') to manipulate others and pursue revenge or gain, exploring the fluidity and deception of personal identity.
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our_mutual_friend
The theme of hidden or mistaken identity is central, with characters like John Harmon assuming the alias John Rokesmith, and others concealing their true natures, reflecting the novel's concern with authenticity versus d
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Partners in Crime
The narrative repeatedly uses false identities, costumes, and role-playing—such as Tommy impersonating various fictional detectives and the couple running a fake agency—to explore how people present themselves and deceiv
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Scaramouche
André-Louis adopts multiple identities—lawyer, mob-orator, actor (Scaramouche), and fencing master—reflecting his adaptability and the theme that one's role in society is often a performance, shaped by circumstance and s
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Short Fiction
Characters are often not what they seem, such as the fox pretending to be a hospitable gentleman, or Mrs. Tiggy-winkle revealed as a hedgehog, underscoring the theme of hidden true natures.
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The Chessmen of Mars
Gahan adopts the identity of Turan the panthan and later U-Kal to protect Tara and fight for her, exploring how disguise enables heroic action and the revelation of true character beneath social roles.
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The Courts of the Morning
Characters frequently adopt false identities or conceal their true purposes, as seen in Sandy Arbuthnot’s secret operations and the waiter-spy’s multiple personas, reflecting themes of deception and self-reinvention.
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The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar
Lupin constantly adopts multiple identities and disguises, highlighting the theme of fluid identity and the power of appearance, as characters are repeatedly deceived by what they see.
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The Hollow Needle
Characters frequently adopt false identities and disguises—Lupin appears as a clergyman, a friend, and a baron—highlighting the theme that identity is fluid and can be manipulated for advantage.
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The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel
The narrative revolves around the Scarlet Pimpernel's mastery of disguise and deception, allowing him to assume multiple identities (such as Paul Molé) to outwit his enemies, highlighting the fluidity and power of assume
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The Man from the Clouds
The protagonist repeatedly adopts false identities (Roger Merton as Thomas Hobhouse, the fake old man with spectacles, the German spy masquerading as an imbecile) to navigate a hostile environment, highlighting how perfo
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The Man in the Brown Suit
Characters frequently adopt false identities, disguises, and pseudonyms—such as the 'man in the brown suit,' the 'Colonel,' and the dancer Nadina—to conceal their true motives and evade detection.
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The Melody of Death
Characters frequently operate under false identities or masks, such as the masked stranger in the safe robbery, the mysterious proprietor of the St. Bride's Safe Company, and Gilbert's hidden life, questioning the reliab
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The Mucker
Characters frequently adopt false identities—Theriere as a count, Divine as a prisoner, Bridge as a bookkeeper—highlighting themes of deception, self-reinvention, and the tension between one's past and present self.
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The Secret of Chimneys
The book revolves around characters assuming false identities, such as Anthony Cade being revealed as Prince Nicholas Obolovitch, and the master criminal King Victor's use of disguises, highlighting how appearances can b
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The Secret Tomb
Characters adopt false names, costumes, and roles—such as Dorothy's circus persona and d'Estreicher's disguises—to conceal their true selves or advance their schemes, questioning the nature of identity.
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The Splendid Spur
The theme is central through Delia Killigrew's disguise as a boy, Jack's mistaken identities, and the hidden agendas of characters like Hannibal Tingcomb, highlighting how appearances deceive and true identity is reveale
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The Teeth of the Tiger
The book revolves around characters adopting false identities, such as Don Luis Perenna being revealed as Arsène Lupin, and the villain's ability to appear as different people, highlighting the theme of deception and the
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The Thirty-Nine Steps
Hannay constantly adopts false identities—as a milkman, a roadman, a political candidate, and a chauffeur—to evade capture and infiltrate enemy plans, emphasizing the theme of shifting identity for survival.
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The Time Traders
The protagonist Ross Murdock constantly adopts false identities—from a meek prisoner to a Beaker trader—blurring the line between his true self and his roles, highlighting how survival and espionage require the suppressi
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the_black_arrow
Characters frequently adopt disguises—such as Dick posing as a monk or Joanna as a boy—to navigate danger, revealing the fluidity of identity in a world of constant threat.
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the_scarlet_pimpernel
Sir Percy Blakeney hides his true heroic nature behind a mask of foolishness and vanity, while characters like Chauvelin and Marguerite adopt disguises to pursue their goals.
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These Old Shades
The central plot revolves around Léonie's disguise as a boy page, her hidden noble birth, and the revelation of her true identity as the Comte de Saint-Vire's daughter, exploring how appearance and social roles can be ma
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Whose Body?
The plot revolves around mistaken and hidden identities—the substitution of one body for another, the use of disguises by detectives, and the concealment of the murderer's true nature behind a respectable facade.
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