Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman
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Author Description
Art for art's sake is a vile catchword, but I confess it appeals to me'Gentleman by day and thief by night, A. J. Raffles lives a double life. Taking 'Art for art's sake' as his motto, Raffles supports his debonair lifestyle by performing lucrative, artistic, and ingenious burglaries of the wealthy elite of Victorian London. Dedicated to his brother-in-law Arthur Conan Doyle, Hornung's first collection of Raffles stories, The Amateur Cracksman (1899), can be seen as an inverted spin-off of the former's celebrated detective stories. But it is Raffles' outlaw status that has drawn generations of readers to these swift-paced tales of a charismatic and cool-headed thief and his less worldly partner, Bunny. Hornung had Oscar Wilde in mind as much as Sherlock Holmes when he created Raffles, and the account of their double life offers one of the turn of the century's most touching accounts of a same-sex couple.Frequently adapted for stage and screen, Hornung's original stories have never lost their power to captivate readers. Admired by writers like George Orwell, Graham Greene, and Anthony Powell, Hornung's crisp prose evokes a late Victorian London of clubland bachelors, hansom cabs, champagne suppers, Australian heiresses, and South African diamond moguls.ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
A. J. Raffles, a gentleman of high society, maintains his lavish lifestyle by executing sophisticated burglaries against the wealthy elite of Victorian London. Raffles operates under the philosophy of 'art for art's sake,' viewing his criminal activities as a refined pursuit rather than a mere necessity. He is accompanied by his loyal, less experienced partner, Bunny, who serves as the narrator of these exploits. The stories follow a structured, episodic framework that highlights the tension between Raffles' public persona as a cricket-playing socialite and his private life as a daring thief. The narrative navigates the rigid social hierarchies of the late nineteenth century, where the protagonists must balance their criminal risks against the constant threat of exposure.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Episodic short story structure
- First-person narration by the partner, Bunny
- Victorian London setting
- Focus on high-stakes burglary and social deception
- Exploration of the gentleman-thief archetype
- Subversion of the traditional detective story format
- Emphasis on wit, charm, and cool-headedness
- Commentary on class dynamics and social status
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Readers frequently highlight the sharp, crisp prose that defines Hornung's depiction of late Victorian clubland. Discussion often centers on the dynamic between the charismatic Raffles and the more grounded Bunny, which many critics interpret as a significant portrayal of a same-sex partnership for the era. The pacing is noted for its swiftness, effectively capturing the excitement of the burglaries while maintaining a focus on the characters' social maneuvers. Critics often compare the work to the Sherlock Holmes canon, noting how the inverted perspective provides a fresh look at the era's criminal underworld. The collection remains a staple for those interested in the evolution of the crime genre and the cultural atmosphere of the turn of the century.
Page Count:
240
Publication Date:
2024-12-12
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192866346
ISBN-13:
9780192866349
Mystery
Crime
Adventure
Victorian
classic
Short Stories
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