Raffles: Further Adventures of the Amateur Cracksman

A.J. Raffles, The Gentleman Thief #2

by E.W. Hornung

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

Genres: Short Stories, Classics, Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Adventure, LGBT

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1901

About the author

Ernest William Hornung known as Willie, was an English author, most famous for writing the Raffles series of novels about a gentleman thief in late Victorian London.

In addition to his novels and short stories Hornung wrote some war verse, and a play based on the Raffles stories was produced successfully. He was much interested in cricket, and was "a man of large and generous nature, a delightful companion and conversationalist".

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I preferred the capers of the first book to the attempt to go deeper here; the characters of Raffles and Bunny are too slight to sustain it. They worked better as figures of whimsy. Pity.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I say, Raffles is starting to grow on me, what? This one is quite well written, has more depth and is more about Bunny and their ridiculous and juvenile relationship - is even a little moving despite the faintly (?!) ludicrous plot. Onward chaps.

[the Kent cryptid · Rating 4 out of 5]

And to think I was upset about the ending of the first book...

[Jim Dooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raffles, the amateur cracksman, is back from a supposed watery grave to continue entertaining us with Further Adventures … and they are quite good. Anyone missing quiet evenings reading the exploits of Sherlock Holmes should find these tales to be a most fulfilling substitute. The relationship between Raffles and Bunny is so reminiscent of Holmes and Watson. There are disguises, hair-breath escapes, villainous antagonists, and a sense of location that constantly seemed very comfortable.

The set of stories in the first book were most entertaining, although time had to be spent acquainting us with the lead characters. In this set, (originally titled THE BLACK MASK) the relationship between the main characters is already established, so the Reader can just sit back and enjoy. We do delve into Raffles’ backstory to link the events from the end of the last book to this one. Best of all, the story isn’t just informational filler … it is an involving tale that comes back to haunt Raffles and Bunny in a new setting. Raffles even displays a patriotic streak on more than one occasion, leading to fighting for the homeland in the Boer War.

E.W. Hornung was the brother-in-law to Arthur Conan-Doyle, and his dedication in the first book to the creator of Holmes demonstrates that the similar literary style is not accidental. Conan-Doyle was reported to have thought very highly of Hornung’s stories, although he did not like the idea of making the protagonist a criminal. Raffles doesn’t benefit from his criminal acts to the extent he can lead a life of leisure, and he is very particular in choosing his targets. He does not intrude on a standing relationship to commit robbery and seems more interested in the challenge of “pulling it off” rather than in changing his lifestyle. Indeed, Raffles has little regard for others in “his line of work” who prey without conscience on the public.

There was a surprise ending to this series of stories that very much caused me to want to continue to the next book in the series. However, I’ll wait for another time when the call to romantic adventure returns.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Raffles: Further Adventures of the Amateur Cracksman" is even more enjoyable than its predecessor, "The Amateur Cracksman." E.W. Hornung, having already established the characters of gentleman thief A.J. Raffles and accomplice-chronicler Bunny in the first book, is freed up to have more fun with his creations and allow them to embark on adventures that aren't all strictly criminal in nature.

In "Further Adventures," Hornung departs somewhat from the writing style of his brother-in-law, Arthur Conan Doyle, by making the episodic Raffles stories more interconnected than the Sherlock Holmes stories are. (Raffles and Bunny are sort of scofflaw versions of Holmes and Watson.) Hornung also often puts Raffles and Bunny in serious danger, something Doyle rarely seemed willing to do with his characters. Without giving too much away, this is particularly harrowing in the last chapter of "Further Adventures."

Anyone who read and enjoyed the first Raffles book -- and it definitely should be read before this one, as the ending of that one is needed to understand how this one begins -- would find much to like in its follow-up.

[Sem · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm grateful that Hornung wrote more stories about Raffles after unceremoniously dumping him into the Mediterranean at the end of 'The Gift of the Emperor' but the series was never the same again. Outside of the comfortable homosocial world of the Albany, clubs, cricket, and Turkish baths Raffles and Bunny are an altogether different proposition. I've never quite believed in this collection and I'm not sure, given how uneven it is and how improbable the romances are, that the author did either. I do think though that if you can't turn your protagonist straight (in either sense) you should at least not back him into corners that, in the end, he can't get out of. What happens to the characterisations in 'The Thief in the Night' is something I'll rant about when I get there.

[Jc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Mask is the second of three Raffles story collections (there is also a later novel). The end of the first collection left Bunny arrested and ruined, with Raffles likely drowned. In the first story of Black Mask, Bunny is out of prison and attempting to sort out his life when he is reunited with the still living Raffles disguised as an invalid. The rest of the stories have the pair engaging once again in their daring, burglarizing life – though without the cover stories they previously hid behind. Overall, I think the stories in this collection, though still rather goofy silly, are better written than the first set. Possibly the best of the eight is the final one, “The Knees of God,” which finds our dastardly-yet-[mostly] innocent crime duo joining up to help the British Empire’s cause in the [2nd] Boer War (1899-1902). These light adventures continue to be amusing little bits of turn of the century British writing.

[Jim Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as fun as the first volume due to the stifling new status quo of Raffles being a known thief and declared dead, but it has its moments.

[Amy Spector · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking to fall in love with something so completely, knowing there is so little of it in the world. 😭

[Jeff Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did think that this was improvement on the initial book as each new story within The Black Mask gave us a further glimpse into the hidden character of Raffles and a closer inspection of his many methods of thievery.

I even felt some sympathy for this rouge when he opened up to 'Bunny' and spoke of how he nearly gave it all away for love.

Easy reading with some mild comic relief here and there.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't love the first book, and enjoyed this one a little less. It's even more obvious that Bunny's only positive quality is his loyalty, and that this is why Raffles keeps him around - to have a convenient patsy who will always do whatever he's told, albeit sometimes incompetently - despite the fact that Raffles also clearly views him with contempt. He never apologizes for abandoning Bunny to the mercy of the authorities when he made his own escape, either (which resulted in Bunny serving 18 months in jail, although to be fair Raffles didn't have a great time either).

The author, through narrator Bunny, argues that his books are not the bad influence that critics have alleged, glorifying criminals, because the two characters are living in fear and not even really doing that well from their crimes, which... is a point, if not really one that applies so much to the first book.

Both of the characters are, in their different ways, romantics; they've abandoned parts of their society's standards while leaving other parts, like jingoistic patriotism, unquestioned, and that's their ultimate downfall. Once again, the author ends the book by killing off Raffles, this time permanently.

All in all, not a favourite.

[Micha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still plucking away at the Raffles stories. This series, taking place after Raffles is exposed as a criminal, is far less fun because we lose the whole cricketer-by-day, thief-by-night concept that made the stories tense yet fun before. They feel darker and the circumstances are often miserable, and Bunny hasn't grown at all in his very pathetic dependence. We're missing the dash that we expect from Raffles, and only see a bit of it in the end as they go off to war. That final story was incoherent at first--Hornung was doing an awful job of writing the action and sequencing--but then the last scene! Phew, what a way to end it. It's also hilarious to me that GR has this categorized in the LGBT genre because, like, it is and it isn't. In some ways, it very MUCH isn't. Like, don't come here expecting queer romance on the page. But oh, the characters are so queer-coded. Hornung I want to see into your brain on this one.

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book. After reading and enjoying the first book of short stories, I was eager to read this collection as well. This book was a disappointment. It was confusing and a struggle to read. I much prefer the previous book with Raffles and Bunny as younger characters involved in college and cricket. Not as old men!
In short, it just didn't work for me this time and I had to put it down.

[Hillary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this quite as much as the first one. The stories didn't fit together as well, and I didn't like them quite as much. Bunny wasn't quite as ludicrous about being in love with Raffles in this one, either, which might have made up for it. However, I did discover (spoilers, sort of) that the impetus needed for Raffles to fake his death is very low indeed.

[Robin Petty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading for easily one of the most touching relationships in literature between the narrator and the gentleman-burglar. Thick-and-thin lifelong male friendships were rarely better explored.
The period-prose and language crackles satisfyingly with some turns of phrase to die for. Rather like when you read Wodehouse you end up talking in their style IRL - I found myself often lapsing into the vernacular of these two!
It's far from an easy read at times - as the stories are uneven in either their novelty, appeal or relevance to the modern reader. The best tales are the jubilee/museum-based yarn, whose name escapes me and 'The Wrong House' whose final paragraphs are very tenderly drawn.
How immensely refreshing to portray, so unashamedly, characters happily on the wrong side of the law without any attempt to make them go repentantly straight. And thankfully no goody-goody on their heels to provide winsome contrast- we don't need one! This book's moral compass is set to the ambiguous side of the tracks and is all the better for it.
Now where did I leave my Sullivan's Bunny?

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Bunny’ has served his time in prison. Soon he finds, through strange steps that Raffles has returned. This time needing to live in a very limited way because of his past. And Bunny is crucial to his plans. But there is more to his past than can at first be imagined. And it is all wrapped up in the events which has left him with white hair, but Bunny waits til Raffles is ready to tell the story.
And so their exploits, though with great restrictions, restart. All now with an even greater danger lurking round every corner, lest they are recognised.
This book has much less hearty feel, Bunny having ‘lost’ his friend once, almost morose as he envisages losing him again at any moment. Yet, this time news of the war in the veld plays a big part in their venture near the end of the book.

Once again, the reader is brilliant. She should be recognised for the way she voices characters, but also for her ability to keep a story fresh and alive.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been dipping in and out of these for months and never really feeling compelled to get stuck in. I decided to finish off the last few for good and I feel but a sense of relief I'm done as I realise that I don't really like these characters and more specifically Hornung's mode of telling stories. Like the titular Raffles, he seems to assume one is interested without allowing you to become interested, and stories tend to be minimal setup and a payoff of Raffles declaring he's super-clever without one being able to work out why, or follow a series of narrative steps to get there and most definitely lacking the weirdness and originality of a Sherlock Holmes short.

There are some nice moments here and there, of course - when I could step back and simply laugh at a character interaction or two. If I had to sit down for an afternoon and read the next volume I wouldn't be bored but ultimately these stories aren't giving me the escapades and humour I was hoping for.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raffles and Bunny return in this sequel. Once again it is a collection of short stories and although maybe not quite as good as the first book it is still very good. I continued to feel bad for Bunny who having just served 18mths in jail is unable to make much of his chosen career as a writer and he has been shunned by his only living relative is close to being homeless. Of course that's when he meets up with Raffles again who had survived his swim to freedom at the end of the last book and now has made his way back to England. The various stories are all fairly interesting and the dynamic between Raffles and Bunny continues to be intriguing. Bunny is still (IMHO) very much in love with Raffles and Raffles is protective of Bunny although he at times can be touch self-centered. The ending story is sad but considering there are two more books in the series it helps mitigate it a bit.

[stormhawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

More adventures of A.J. Raffles and his amiable, if less bright companion, Bunny. At the end of the first volume of stories, Raffles is missing and presumed dead, having jumped from a cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea, with Bunny clapped in irons and hauled off to jail. We don't learn much about Bunny's prison experiences as the first story beings some time after he is released. Of course, like the famous character of Hornung's brother-in-law a plunge into water from a great height is not always fatal. This collection takes us from the wilds of the London Suburbs to the wilds of South Africa where the Boer War is underway. Again we end at a cliffhanger, although slightly less of one seen from the eyes of our narrator.

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not think this collection was as strong as the first one. For starters, I really did not enjoy the ruse that Raffles and Bunny have to put up for most of the book, pretending to be an invalid and a nurse. And I found Raffles attempts to fake his own death more and more tedious. Even though Raffles dies again at the end of the final story, I'm still not convinced that this is the end of him.

Mostly what bothers me about the stories is the Holmes/Watson friendship is constantly strained by Raffles inability to really show Bunny true compassion. He's always keeping secrets that cause his friend real pain, and doesn't seem to care enough to stop. Raffles feels caught somewhere between Holmes and Lupin, but in a way that makes him less enjoyable than both.

That being said, I fully intend to keep reading, despite my frustrations.

[nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

why does raffles keep dying oh my goodness-
i really liked this, much like i enjoyed the first book. raffles and bunny are now one of my favourite duos of all time potentially and i find their relationship very interesting. their dynamic is so similar to that of holmes and watson, and i believe i've said that before, but it's just so evident the more that i read about them, so i can't help but keep pointing it out.

i cannot recommend this book because i feel like one needs to read the series as a whole, and the following part of this review will just be spoilers. i feel like i cannot talk about this book in depth without spoiling some of it.

the manner in which raffles came back from the dead reminded me a lot of the adventure of the empty house; the way that he took bunny by surprise, the fact that he returned as an old, grouchy man, the fact that he should've technically died by drowning. and after his return, bunny will do anything to keep raffles with him and i think that that speaks volumes about their friendship.

i would also say that he trusts raffles less to an extent now, because he's afraid, to a degree, that they're going to get caught and he's going to lose his friend again. it's so- their friendship fascinates me so much.

also the fact that bunny let raffles convince him to go fight in the boer war was insane and stupid. how else was this going to end, bunny? how else? and now bunny's injured too. in an awfully odd place at that as well. what do you mean you were shot near your sciatic nerve??

[Okuta Otherside · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the 2nd book of Raffles series and i love it so much! Raffles and Bunny characters and relationship just remind me with how Sherlock Holmes and Watson interacting with each other. Raffles and Bunny characters are so lovable, you can't hate them even though they are thieves. But what makes me a bit disappointed is the ending. It's a cliffhanger again! Just like the first book! So i need to read the next book to know what really happen with Raffles and Bunny.

[Chloé · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un recueil un peu plus prenant que le précédent, alternant entre humour et moments bien plus sombres.
Bunny n'est plus aussi innocent et fait preuve de d'initiative, même si Raffles continue à vouloir le laisser dans le noir quand cela l'arrange.
Globalement, compte tenu de la dernière nouvelle, on peut regretter un manque d'étoffement, car l'on quitte les personnages alors qu'on ne commençait à peine qu'à les connaître.

[Samrat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different from the Amateur Cracksman in tone. Everything is a lot more precarious, they're always closer to being found out, but Bunny is noticeably firmer of purpose and skillful. I didn't anticipate The Knees of the Gods, and can't imagine what it'll be like to read later stories.

[Neesa KP · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book expanded on the second part of the one before it. Since it went over all the same events and I read them rather close together it was rather repetitive for me. I’d recommend only reading one or reading them much further apart. It was still an enjoyable read, though.

[Zaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

That ending... ow

[Carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raffles, no!! :'-(

[Paulina Palacios Herrera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bunny y Raffles en esta selección de aventuras iniciales enamoran, sencillo y contundente el camino del crimen desde el porte y descaro del caballero son una gran lectura para distraer.

[Squeaky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stories, lots of words to look up. I know NOTHING about the Boer War!