E W Hornung

The Amateur Cracksman E W Hornung

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. 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 assisted by his friend, the younger, idealistic Bunny Manders. Both men are constantly under the surveillance of Inspector Mackenzie of Scotland Yard who is always thwarted in his attempts to pin the crimes on Raffles. The short stories included in the collection are: "The Ides of March" "A Costume Piece" "Gentlemen and Players" "Le Premier Pas" "Wilful Murder" "Nine Points of the Law" "The Return Match" "The Gift of the Emperor"