HORNUNG, E.W. - Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman

London: Jonathan Cape, 1936. First Edition. First Printing. Hard Cover. Publisher's full oatmeal cloth, brown lettering on spine and cover. This collection of the Raffles stories was published in 1936, and includes 16 stories, the first eight of which were first published in 1899. The was published as a part of the "Florin Books" (so named because the were priced at two shillings each). Those original eight stories comprised 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;" "No Sinecure;" "A Jubilee Present;" "The Fate of Faustina;" "The Last Laugh;" "To Catch a Thief;" "An Old Flame;" "The Wrong House;" and "The Knees of the Gods." . Spine lightly sunned, former owner's name and date (May 18, 1940) on ffep, otherwise unmarked, tight, square, and clean. VERY GOOD. Florin Books Series. Vol. 94. 12mo 7" - 7½" tall. 288, (24-adverts) pp. New with No dust jacket as issued .

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