E. W. Hornung’s ‘A Thief in the Night: Further Adventures of A. J. Raffles, Cricketer and Cracksman’ reintroduces readers to the charming anti-hero A. J. Raffles, blending elements of crime fiction with the social allure of Edwardian cricket culture. Hornung’s narrative employs a deft mix of humor and suspense, revealing Raffles’ audacity and ingenuity in a series of meticulously plotted heists. The text navigates the complexities of morality in a society obsessed with class and honor, reflecting the literary trends of the late 19th century, where characters wrestle with their dual identities amidst the backdrop of the British upper class. E. W. Hornung, a novelist and playwright, was deeply influenced by his marriage to Marie ‘Touie’ Hornung, who was a passionate supporter of the arts and sought to inspire his creative endeavors. Having been a close acquaintance of Arthur Conan Doyle, Hornung’s writing captures the essence of adventure and mischief while exuding a deep appreciation for the psychological motivations of his characters, particularly Raffles, whose dual identity symbolizes the conflict between societal expectations and personal desires. This book is a must-read for fans of classic crime literature, offering not only thrilling escapades but also a rich exploration of the human condition. Raffles’ escapades are as entertaining as they are thought-provoking, ensuring that every page keeps readers on the edge of their seats while pondering the nature of morality itself.
关于作者
Ernest William Hornung, commonly known as E. W. Hornung (1866–1921), was an English author and poet best known for creating the character A. J. Raffles, an English gentleman-thief first introduced in the 1898 collection of short stories ‘The Amateur Cracksman.’ Hornung was born in Middlesbrough, England, and was educated at Uppingham School and later at the Bradford Grammar School. His literary career began earnestly in the early 1890s after moving to London, where he became close friends with fellow writer Arthur Conan Doyle, his brother-in-law, whose sleuth Sherlock Holmes greatly influenced Hornung’s work. Hornung’s literary output includes novels and numerous short stories; however, his fame predominantly rests on the Raffles series, which includes ‘A Thief in the Night: Further adventures of A. J. Raffles, Cricketer and Cracksman’ (1905), a later collection that continued to explore the complexities and contradictions of criminal life through its charismatic protagonist. His delineation of Raffles as both a sportsman and a criminal mastermind exemplifies Hornung’s subversion of Victorian respectability, presenting crime with a touch of elegance and moral ambiguity. Despite the success of his antihero, Hornung also wrote works in the adventure and mystery genres, showcasing his versatile command of language and narrative styles. Hornung’s contribution to English literature, with his morally ambivalent characters and exploration of the dichotomy between social respectability and the allure of crime, ensures his continuing recognition in the canon of detective fiction.
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