Summary

Nobody knows why Stéphane is such an aggressive and prolific thief. In every documented case of Stendhal syndrome, people felt intense emotions, but none of them stole. Likewise, he does not comfortably fit the classification of a kleptomaniac either. He and Anne-Catherine have stolen at least one work of art three out of every four weeks for the last six months. Stéphane feels the pace is both natural and sustainable, which is dazzling. Schmidt, the Swiss psychotherapist, cannot identify anything psychologically wrong with him, nor can any other psychologist who studies Stéphane. After he is imprisoned, he is forced to meet with many, and dislikes all of them. Ultimately, after subjecting Stéphane to practically every test available, Schmidt concludes that Stéphane is a narcissist, someone who believes only he can identify real beauty, who feels entitled to possess...