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    The Amateur Cracksman
    The Amateur Cracksman
    The Amateur Cracksman
    Ebook189 pages3 hours

    The Amateur Cracksman

    By Ernest William Hornung

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    This early work by Ernest William Hornung was originally published in 1899 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. 'The Amateur Cracksman' is the first collection of short stories featuring the charming A. J. Raffles. 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 jewellery 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. Ernest William Hornung was born in Middlesbrough, England in 1866. After working briefly as a journalist, and publishing a series of poems in The Times, Hornung created the character for which he is best-remembered: A. J. Raffles, a "gentleman thief" plying his trade in Victorian London.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWhite Press
    Release dateNov 12, 2014
    ISBN9781473396869
    The Amateur Cracksman

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    Reviews for The Amateur Cracksman

    3.5/5

    35 ratings7 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Not quite what I was expecting - given their age (and the contemporary novelty of the theme) they are remarkably tightly written. Very much in the style of Sherlock Holmes, although the individual stories have less depth.
    • 5/5
      Delightful stories. I don't know why I never got around to reading them before. Ruffles is a precursor of James Bond -- cool, sophisticated, and addicted to danger. Bunny is Everyman, the half terrified, half worshiping smuck who, against all his better judgment, invariably falls in with his hero. The particular capers themselves are not of any great interest. They're just a setting for Ruffles, the gentleman cricket player who commits jewel theft as an amusement.
    • 5/5
      A. J. Raffles, a gentleman thief, travels among the elite of the London social register. Invited for his classy manners and top cricket playing at many a manor and country estate, he is a bit of a Robin Hood-esque figure crossed with Sherlock Holmes. Being of good manners, he never steals from his hosts, but if there is something amiss he will make it all right.

      Harry "Bunny" Manders, an old schoolmate, plays Watson to Raffles. Recording their many adventures while also being the partner in crime.

      In "A Jubilee Present", Raffles becomes enamored with a priceless gold cup in the British Museum. Managing to steal it from out of heavy security, it finds it so beautiful that he can't melt it down to sell. Instead he presents it to Queen Victoria in tribute to her Diamond Jubilee. A bit of Robin Hood here.

      This is the second collection of short stories recounting some of their adventure. The stories take place later in their careers. This was the first collection published. There are two other books of earlier adventures that were published later. I definitely plan to read them.

      Interesting note is that E.W. Hornung was Arthur Conan Doyle's brother-in-law, and felt that Raffles was to be a form of flattery to Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.
    • 4/5
      This charming caper story follows Raffles and Bunny, two gentleman jewel thieves. Raffles is the anti-Holmes -- his cleverness is unmatched, though used for ill. Bunny is a somewhat reluctant accomplice at first, and is seems unsporting that he should be the one caught in the end. Still, a pleasant adventure story that seems as relevant in the 21st century as it did when published.
    • 1/5
      Ugh. SO BAD. Bunny is a moron, and Raffles is not a "gentlemen thief", he's a cad and a bounder - and not in the fun way.
    • 5/5
      I love this book! Written/published at the turn of the 20th century, the writing seems at first a bit stilted and wordy, but that's Victorian Era writing for you! This is series of stories which we follow a gentleman thief and his protege on their thieving adventures. It is a fun, light hearted series of stories, which could be stand-alone and i believe they were originally published as such in newspapers before collected in book form.I must warn you. The ending knocked me out. The epilogue takes us to a different frame of mind. Please don't rush and read the epilogue first as it may ruin the fun of the bulk of the book!!!
    • 3/5
      Old school stories about a "gentleman thief" and his somewhat unwilling partner. Entertaining and probably extremely original when first released in 1899. Holds up fairly well.

    Book preview

    The Amateur Cracksman - Ernest William Hornung

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