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. 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 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. In the final story, "The Gift of the Emperor", Raffles is called into service on behalf of the Foreign Office who wish to recover a valuable pearl from a German diplomat staying in England. However, this is only in the TV adaptation; in the book he is working entirely for his own profit. 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"

Originally published in The Strand Magazine, where he was second in popularity only to the legendary Sherlock Holmes, these stories introduced the world to antihero gentleman cricketer and thief, A. J. Raffles, along with his faithful cohort, Bunny Manders. Stories included: 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

Originally published in The Strand Magazine, where he was second in popularity only to the legendary Sherlock Holmes, these stories introduced the world to antihero gentleman cricketer and thief, A. J. Raffles, along with his faithful cohort, Bunny Manders. Stories included: 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

Stingaree's adventures have long delighted thousands of readers. He is a stylish bushranger, his English origins cloaked in mystery, who operates in New South Wales. He is, after Raffles, the most famous character that E. W. Hornung (1866-1921) ever created. Virtually unknown, however, is the fact that twelve years after the original stories appeared Hornung started to write a fresh batch of tales, relating Stingaree's subsequent history. For various reasons, the project was abandoned but the batch of stories that he completed are now brought together in book-form for the very first time. Peter Rowland is a well-known historian and biographer. He recently transcribed and edited two of Hornung's unfinished novels, His Brother's Blood and The Graven Image, and compiled a fresh collection of Hornung short stories, Tall Tales and short'uns. A revised and much-expanded edition of his 1999 biography of Hornung will appear shortly. (For more information, see www.peterrowland.org.uk).