|
The Amateur Cracksman
''The Amateur Cracksman'' is an 1899 short story collection by E. W. Hornung. It was published in the UK by Methuen & Co., London, and in the US by Scribner's, New York.Rowland, p. 280. Many later editions ( T. Nelson & Sons, 1914; University of Nebraska Press, 1976; et al) expand the title to ''Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman''. Some editions such as Penguin Books, 1948, retitle the collection simply, ''Raffles''. It was the original short story collection by Hornung, featuring his most famous character, A. J. Raffles, a gentleman thief in late Victorian Great Britain. 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'' (1909). Overview A national sporting hero, Arthur J. Raffles is a prominent member of London society. As a cricketer, he regularly represents England in Test matches. He uses this as cover to commit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crime Fiction
Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a professional detective, of a crime, often a murder. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as historical fiction or science fiction, but the boundaries are indistinct. Crime fiction has multiple subgenres, including detective fiction (such as the whodunit), courtroom drama, hard-boiled fiction, and legal thrillers. Most crime drama focuses on crime investigation and does not feature the courtroom. Suspense and mystery are key elements that are nearly ubiquitous to the genre. History The '' One Thousand and One Nights'' (''Arabian Nights'') contains the earliest known examples of crime fiction. One example of a story of this genre is the medieval Arabic tale of "The Three Apples", one of the tales narrated by Scheherazade in the ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1899 Short Story Collections
Events January 1899 * January 1 ** Spanish rule ends in Cuba, concluding 400 years of the Spanish Empire in the Americas. ** Queens and Staten Island become administratively part of New York City. * January 2 – ** Bolivia sets up a customs office in Puerto Alonso, leading to the Brazilian settlers there to declare the Republic of Acre in a revolt against Bolivian authorities. **The first part of the Jakarta Kota–Anyer Kidul railway on the island of Java is opened between Batavia Zuid ( Jakarta Kota) and Tangerang. * January 3 – Hungarian Prime Minister Dezső Bánffy fights an inconclusive duel with his bitter enemy in parliament, Horánszky Nándor. * January 4 – **U.S. President William McKinley's declaration of December 21, 1898, proclaiming a policy of benevolent assimilation of the Philippines as a United States territory, is announced in Manila by the U.S. commander, General Elwell Otis, and angers independence activists who had fought agai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Gift Of The Emperor
"The Gift of the Emperor" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in October 1898 by ''Cassell's Magazine''. The story was also included as the eight and last story in the collection ''The Amateur Cracksman'', published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. The events in the story lead to the eventual exposure of Raffles as a thief and contribute significantly to his cynicism about British High Society. Plot Part one Bunny is struggling to earn an honest living as a journalist. He writes an article about a priceless pearl to be given by a European emperor to Queen Victoria. While boating with Raffles on the Thames, Raffles invites Bunny on a sea voyage for Italy. Later, when Bunny boards their ship at Southampton, however, he discovers Raffles talking to a lady, Miss Werner. In private, Raffles tells Bunny o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Return Match
"The Return Match" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in October 1898 by ''Cassell's Magazine''. The story was also included as the seventh story in the collection ''The Amateur Cracksman'', published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. Plot Raffles brings Bunny to his Albany rooms. Raffles says the famous thief whom Raffles outsmarted during the affair of Lady Melrose's necklace, named Crawshay, was imprisoned at Dartmoor but escaped yesterday. Raffles suspects that Crawshay is coming after him, to seek revenge against Raffles. Suddenly, Crawshay enters the room. Crawshay smoothly tells Raffles that Raffles must find a way to get Crawshay out of the country. Raffles acknowledges to Bunny that Crawshay is blackmailing them, but is genuinely excited to help the daring prison escapee get away. Raffles ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nine Points Of The Law
"Nine Points of the Law" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in September 1898 by ''Cassell's Magazine''. The story was also included as the six story in the collection '' The Amateur Cracksman'', published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. Plot Raffles shows Bunny a remarkable advertisement in ''The Daily Telegraph'' offering two thousand pounds for an unspecified task. Raffles has answered it under a false name. That moment, a replying telegram arrives, from a famously shady lawyer named Addenbrooke. Raffles takes Bunny to Addenbrooke's offices in Wellington Street, Strand. The lawyer meets them, but recognizes Raffles. Raffles insists that both he and Bunny are in need of money. Addenbrooke, now reluctant, informs them of the illicit job: to take back his client's priceless Velasquez painting, whi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wilful Murder (short Story)
"Wilful Murder" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published as the fifth part of the collection ''The Amateur Cracksman'', published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. This and "Le Premier Pas" were the two stories in the collection not published previously in magazine format. Plot Raffles and Bunny have just returned from Ireland, and Bunny anxiously waits in his rooms for Raffles to sell the emeralds they have stolen to Baird, a moneylender who is Raffles's fence. Raffles arrives, having sold the emeralds; however, Baird seems to have deduced that the disguised Raffles is actually a gentleman. Baird secretly followed Raffles back to his artist's studio, though Raffles has shaken him off. Raffles and Bunny leave to the Albany. On the way, in Bond Street, they pass by Jack Rutter, an unfortunate drunkard who Bai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Le Premier Pas
"Le Premier Pas" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published as the fourth story in the collection ''The Amateur Cracksman'', published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. This and "Wilful Murder" were the two stories in the collection not published previously in magazine format. Plot Raffles and Bunny are together at the Albany. Raffles decides to finally tell Bunny the tale of his first crime: Raffles is in Melbourne for the Test Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities Arts and entertainment * ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film * ''Test'' (2014 film), ... match, and runs into debt. He is removed from play for some days due to a hand injury; the surgeon who attends him mentions there is a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gentlemen And Players (short Story)
"Gentlemen and Players" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in August 1898 by ''Cassell's Magazine''. The story was also included in the collection '' The Amateur Cracksman'', published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. Plot While Raffles is out during a Gentlemen v Players cricket match at Lord's, a young cricketer named Crowley approaches Raffles. Raffles learns that Crowley's father, Lord Amersteth, is looking for cricketers, such as Raffles, to play on Crowley's team in games celebrating Crowley's twenty-first birthday at his father's estate, Milchester Abbey, in Dorset. Raffles persuades Lord Amersteth to also invite Bunny to play. Bunny, who secretly cannot play cricket, is horrified, but accepts. Raffles returns to the field to bowl, and plays excellently. Afterwards, Raffles reveals that he int ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A Costume Piece
"A Costume Piece" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in July 1898 by ''Cassell's Magazine''. The story was also included in the collection ''The Amateur Cracksman'', published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. Plot Raffles visits Bunny's flat at midnight to tell him about a banquet at the Old Bohemian Club he attended earlier. The banquet was given for Reuben Rosenthall, an enormous, brutish, alcoholic millionaire who has returned to England from South Africa after making his money in diamond fields. Rosenthall boasted of his diamond stud and diamond ring, worth fifty thousand pounds together. Rosenthall also boasted Purvis, his prize-fighter bodyguard, and his readiness with his own gun. Raffles is eager to steal the diamonds. Bunny agrees to help, though neither man is hard-up. Raffles retorts that ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Ides Of March (short Story)
"The Ides of March" (also published as "In the Chains of Crime") is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and the first appearance of the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in June 1898 by ''Cassell's Magazine''. The story was also included in the collection ''The Amateur Cracksman'', published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. Plot Part one "Bunny" Manders returns to the flat in the Albany where he just lost over two hundred pounds in a game of baccarat, earlier that evening. The famous cricketer A. J. Raffles, who lives there and who Bunny once fagged for at school, greets him. Bunny confesses to Raffles that he is hopelessly in debt. The checks he wrote for Raffles and the others are worthless. When Raffles does not express sympathy, Bunny tries to leave. Raffles detains him. Agitated, Bunny raises a pistol to his head to kill himself. However, Raffles un ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Amateur Cracksman-frontispiece
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the most frequently used word in the English language; studies and analyses of texts have found it to account for seven percent of all printed English-language words. It is derived from gendered articles in Old English which combined in Middle English and now has a single form used with pronouns of any gender. The word can be used with both singular and plural nouns, and with a noun that starts with any letter. This is different from many other languages, which have different forms of the definite article for different genders or numbers. Pronunciation In most dialects, "the" is pronounced as (with the voiced dental fricative followed by a schwa) when followed by a consonant sound, and as (homophone of pronoun ''thee'') when followed by a v ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
.png "Click for more on -> The Amateur Cracksman-frontispiece")