Raffles by E.W. Hornung6/24/2023 In fact, Ernst William Hornung dedicated the first volume of Raffles stories to ‘A.C.D. There is much common in style, written in second person, the narrators being awestruck inferiors in intellect, recounting the amazing deeds of the slightly snobbish heroes. The first name of Raffles was borrowed from Arthur Conan Doyle, and the character to some extent caricatured Sherlock Holmes. The first Raffles book – The Amateur Cracksman - was published in 1899. He is a gentleman thief – to be precise, ‘an amateur cracksman’ … a la ‘amateur cricketer’ or Gentleman. He does not fix matches, but breaks safes. What’s the satisfaction of taking a man’s wicket when you want his spoons? Still, if you can bowl a bit your low cunning won’t get rusty, and always looking for the weak spot’s just the kind of mental exercise one wants.”Ī cricketer and a criminal. He explains: “Cricket is good enough sport until you discover a better. However, he himself takes incredibly little interest in the game. One of the early stories featuring Raffles is even titled Gentlemen and Players. Raffles played for the famous I Zingari team, and turns out for the Gentlemen of England against the Players. He is handsome, debonair, witty, masterful and brave. He is a dandy, with an indolent, athletic figure. Exceptional cricketer - a dangerous bat, a brilliant field and perhaps the finest slow bowler of his decade.
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