''The Amateur Cracksman'' is an 1899

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...

collection by

E. W. Hornung Ernest William Hornung (7 June 1866 – 22 March 1921) was an English author and poet known for writing the A. J. Raffles (character), A. J. Raffles series of stories about a gentleman thief in late 19th-century London. Hornung was educa ...

. It was published in the UK by Methuen & Co., London, and in the US by

Scribner's Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner's or Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing American authors including Henry James, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Marjorie Kinnan Rawli ...

, New York.Rowland, p. 280. Many later editions ( T. Nelson & Sons, 1914;

University of Nebraska A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, ...

Press, 1976; et al) expand the title to ''Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman''. Some editions such as

Penguin Books Penguin Books is a British publishing house. It was co-founded in 1935 by Allen Lane with his brothers Richard and John, as a line of the publishers The Bodley Head, only becoming a separate company the following year.A. J. Raffles Arthur J. Raffles (usually called A. J. Raffles) is a fictional character created in 1898 by E. W. Hornung, brother-in-law of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Raffles is, in many ways, an inversion of Holmeshe is a "gentle ...

, a

gentleman thief A gentleman thief, gentleman burglar, lady thief, or phantom thief is a stock character in fiction. A gentleman or lady thief is characterised by impeccable manners, charm, courteousness, and the avoidance of physical force or intimidation to ...

in late Victorian Great Britain. The book was very well received and spawned three follow-ups: two more short story collections, ''

The Black Mask ''The Black Mask'' is a 1901 short story collection by E. W. Hornung. It was published in the UK by Grant Richards, London, and in the US by Scribner's, New York under the title ''Raffles: Further Adventures of the Amateur Cracksman''.Rowland, ...

'' (1901) and '' A Thief in the Night'' (1904), as well as a full-length novel, ''

Mr. Justice Raffles ''Mr. Justice Raffles'' is a 1909 novel written by E.W. Hornung. It featured his popular character A. J. Raffles a well-known cricketer and gentleman thief. It was the fourth and last in his four Raffles books which had begun with '' The Amate ...

'' (1909).

Overview

A national sporting hero, Arthur J. Raffles is a prominent member of London society. As a cricketer, he regularly represents

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

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), ...

matches. He uses this as cover to commit a number of burglaries, primarily stealing valuable jewelry from the elite of London, for thrill and profit. He is assisted in this by his friend, the younger Harry "Bunny" Manders, who idealizes Raffles as a sportsman. Both men are constantly under the surveillance of

Inspector Mackenzie A. J. Raffles is a British fictional character – a cricketer and gentleman thief – created by E. W. Hornung. Between 1898 and 1909, Hornung wrote a series of 26 short stories, two plays, and a novel about Raffles and his fictional ...

of Scotland Yard, who is always thwarted in his attempts to pin the crimes on Raffles.

# "

The Ides of March The Ides of March (; la, Idus Martiae, Late Latin: ) is the 74th day in the Roman calendar, corresponding to 15 March. It was marked by several Religion in ancient Rome, religious observances and was notable in Rome as a deadline for settling d ...

" – Raffles initiates Bunny into his profession, taking him along as an accomplice. # " A Costume Piece" – Raffles schemes to steal diamonds from the millionaire Reuben Rosenthall. # " Gentlemen and Players" – While in the countryside to play a cricket match, Raffles and Bunny are surprised to discover Inspector Mackenzie of Scotland Yard there, attempting to thwart an expected burglary. # "

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'', ...

" – Raffles recounts his first felony, committed in Australia. # "

Wilful Murder Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person without justification or excuse, especially the c ...

" – Becoming aware that a dealer has discovered his real identity, Raffles proceeds to his house with the intention of murdering him. # "

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 ...

" – Raffles and Bunny are tasked by a lawyer to extricate a rare picture, bound for Australia. # "

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 inc ...

" – Raffles expects a visit from a recently escaped convict. # "

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 a ...

" – Raffles and Bunny board a vessel carrying a famous pearl as a diplomatic gift.

Notes

References

;Citations ;Sources * *

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Amateur Cracksman A. J. Raffles 1899 short story collections Crime short story collections British short story collections Methuen Publishing books

Overview

Contents

Notes

References

External links