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Arthur J. Raffles is a character created in the 1890s by E. W. Hornung, brother-in-law to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Raffles is, in many ways, a deliberate inversion of Holmes - he is a ""gentleman thief,"" living at the Albany, a prestigious address in London, playing cricket for the Gentlemen of England and supporting himself by carrying out ingenious burglaries. He is called the ""Amateur Cracksman,"" and often, at first, differentiates between himself and the ""professors"" - professional criminals from the lower classes. As Holmes has Dr. Watson to chronicle his adventures, Raffles has Harry ""Bunny"" Manders - a former schoolmate saved from disgrace and suicide by Raffles, whom Raffles persuaded to accompany him on a burglary. While Raffles often takes advantage of Manders' relative innocence, and sometimes treats him with a certain amount of contempt, he knows that Manders' bravery and loyalty are to be relied on utterly.
Reproduction of the original: Mr. Justice Raffles by E.W. Hornung
If I must tell more tales of Raffles, I can but back to our earliest days together, and fill in the blanks left by discretion in existing annals. In so doing I may indeed fill some small part of an infinitely greater blank, across which you may conceive me to have stretched my canvas for the first frank portrait of my friend.
E. W. Hornung's Ultimate Collection is a comprehensive anthology that showcases the diverse talents of the author, known for his compelling storytelling and versatile literary style. The collection includes 19 novels, such as the popular 'A Thief in the Night,' as well as over 40 short stories that reveal Hornung's skill in crafting engaging narratives. Additionally, the inclusion of war poems and memoirs adds a unique insight into the author's personal experiences and historical context. Hornung's works are characterized by a blend of adventure, mystery, and social commentary, making this collection a valuable contribution to the literary landscape of the time. With a keen eye for detail and a sharp wit, Hornung's writings captivate readers with their depth and complexity, offering a rich tapestry of characters and settings that explore the human condition in various contexts. E. W. Hornung's Ultimate Collection is a must-read for anyone interested in classic literature and the evolving themes of the early 20th century, presenting a nuanced perspective on society and humanity.
Ernest William Hornung was born in Middlesbrough, England on 7th June 1866, the third son and youngest of eight children. Although spending most of his life in England and France he spent two years in Australia from 1884 and that experience was to colour and influence much of his written works. His most famous character A. J. Raffles, 'the gentleman thief', was published first in Cassell's Magazine during 1898 and was to make him famous across the world as the new century dawned. Hornung also wrote several stage plays and was a gifted poet. Spending time with the troops in WWI he published Notes of a Camp-Follower on the Western Front during 1919, a detailed account of his time there. This was especially close to his heart as his son, and only child, was killed at the Second Battle of Ypres on 6th July 1915. Ernest William Hornung died in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, in the south of France on 22nd March 1921. Index of Contents Out of Paradise The Chest of Silver The Rest Cure The Criminologists' Club The Field of Phillipi A Bad Night A Trap to Catch a Cracksman The Spoils of Sacrilege The Raffles Relics E. W. Hornung - A Short Biography E. W. Hornung - A Concise Bibliography
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The Amateur Cracksman was the original short story collection by E. W. Hornung featuring his most famous character, A. J. Raffles, a gentleman thief in late Victorian Great Britain. It was first published in 1899. The book was very well received and spawned three follow-ups: two more short story collections, The Black Mask (1901) and A Thief in the Night (1904), as well as a full-length novel, Mr. Justice Raffles in 1909. Arthur Raffles is a prominent member of London society, and a national sporting hero. As a cricketer he regularly represents England in Test matches. He uses this as a chance to commit a number of burglaries, primarily stealing valuable jewelry from his hosts. In this he is...
Sophisticated mayhem from a master of crime fictionSince his friend and partner in crime, A.J. Raffles, jumped into the Mediterranean, Bunny Manders has scraped along as best he can. At Raffles's side, he was witness to, and participant in, the most ingenious burglaries the underworld had ever seen. Without him, Bunny is a struggling ex-convict, so down on his luck that he answers an ad seeking a male nurse and companion for a notoriously rude invalid. But when he lights the old man's Sullivan cigarette and sees a perfect smoke ring float into the air, Bunny cries out in delight. Raffles is back, and ready for adventure. In the second installment in E.W. Hornung's crackerjack crime series, England's greatest jewel thief is up to all of his old tricks and many ingenious new ones--none so spectacular as turning Queen Victoria herself into an accomplice. This ebook features a new introduction by Otto Penzler and has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
These are E. W. Hornung's famous stories of adventure and crime featuring the thrill seeking A. J. Raffles and his friend, accomplice and chronicler 'Bunny'. By turns urbane gentleman about town and accomplished cricketer, life is just too ordinary for Raffles and that sets him on a series of adventures that have long been treasured as a real antidote to the 'white knights' who are the usual heroes of the crime fiction of this period. This book includes the first two collections of Raffles-the Gentleman Cracksman-stories, The Amateur Cracksman & The Black Mask-comprising some 16 stories in all. Included are 'The Ides of March, ' 'Nine Points of the Law, ' 'The Fate of Faustina' and many other favourites. Leonaur is bringing the entire Raffles adventures together in two matching volumes which are available in softcover and hardcover with dust jacket-making them perfect for collector