E . W Hornung - The Amateur Cracksman - Wilful Murder - Audiobook 5/8

Описание: E . W Hornung - The Amateur Cracksman - Wilful Murder - Audiobook 5/8
The Amateur Cracksman is a collection of short stories by E. W. Hornung, published in 1899. It was first published in the UK by Methuen & Co., London, and in the US by Scribner’s, New York. Later editions (T. Nelson & Sons, 1914; University of Nebraska Press, 1976; etc.) Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman to the title. Some editions, such as Penguin Books, 1948, simply call it Raffles.

The collection features Hornung’s most famous character, A. J. Raffles, a gentleman thief in late Victorian Great Britain. The book was very popular and inspired three more collections and a novel: The Black Mask (1901), A Thief in the Night (1904), Mr. Justice Raffles (1909).

Overview A national sporting hero, Arthur J. Raffles is a prominent member of London society. He plays cricket for England regularly and uses this as a cover to commit a number of burglaries, mainly stealing valuable jewelry from the elite of London, for thrill and profit. He is helped in this by his friend, the younger Harry “Bunny” Manders, who admires Raffles as a sportsman. Both men are constantly watched by Inspector Mackenzie of Scotland Yard, who is always unsuccessful in his attempts to catch Raffles.

Ernest William Hornung (7 June 1866 – 22 March 1921) was an English author and poet who wrote the A. J. Raffles series of stories about a gentleman thief in late 19th-century London. Hornung was educated at Uppingham School; he left the school in December 1883 to travel to Sydney, where he stayed for two years. He used his Australian experiences as a background when he started writing, first short stories and later novels.

In 1898 he wrote “In the Chains of Crime”, which introduced Raffles and his friend, Bunny Manders; the characters were partly inspired by his friends Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas, and also by the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, created by his brother-in-law, Arthur Conan Doyle. The series of Raffles short stories were published as books in 1899, and two more books of Raffles short stories followed, as well as a novel that was poorly received. Besides his Raffles stories, Hornung was a prolific writer of fiction, publishing many books from 1890, with A Bride from the Bush to his 1914 novel The Crime Doctor.

The First World War ended Hornung’s fictional output. His son, Oscar, was killed at the Second Battle of Ypres in July 1915. Hornung joined the YMCA, first in England, then in France, where he helped run a canteen and library. He published two collections of poetry during the war, and then one more volume of verse and an account of his time spent in France, Notes of a Camp-Follower on the Western Front. Hornung’s weak constitution was further damaged by the stress of his war work. To help him recover, he and his wife visited the south of France in 1921. He got sick from influenza on the way, and died on 22 March 1921, aged 54.

“The Ides of March” – Raffles teaches Bunny how to be a thief, taking him as his partner.

“A Costume Piece” – Raffles plans to steal diamonds from the rich Reuben Rosenthall.

“Gentlemen and Players” – While in the countryside to play a cricket match, Raffles and Bunny are shocked to find Inspector Mackenzie of Scotland Yard there, trying to stop an expected burglary.

“Le Premier Pas” – Raffles tells his first crime, committed in Australia.

“Wilful Murder” – Knowing that a dealer has found out his real identity, Raffles goes to his house with the aim of killing him.

“Nine Points of the Law” – Raffles and Bunny are hired by a lawyer to get a rare picture, going to Australia.

“The Return Match” – Raffles expects a visit from a recently escaped convict.

“The Gift of the Emperor” – Raffles and Bunny board a ship carrying a famous pearl as a diplomatic gift.