The Amateur Cracksman
E. W. Hornung
Read by Kristin Hughes (1974-2021)
"I'd tasted blood, and it was all over with me. Why should I work when I could steal? Why settle down to some humdrum uncongenial billet, when excitement, romance, danger and a decent living were all going begging together?"- A. J. Raffles, The Ides of March.
The Amateur Cracksman is the first collection of stories about A. J. Raffles, gentleman, cricketer, and thief. After stopping his old school friend, Bunny Manders, from a desperate attempt at suicide, Raffles introduces the unsuspecting Bunny to a new way of earning a living, burglary. Though frequently horrified by Raffles's actions, the conscience-stricken Bunny stands by him through all their adventures, firm to his promise, "When you want me, I'm your man!" (Summary by Kristin Hughes) (5 hr 25 min)
Chapters
| The Ides of March | 48:39 | Read by Kristin Hughes (1974-2021) |
| A Costume Piece | 36:10 | Read by Kristin Hughes (1974-2021) |
| Gentlemen and Players | 41:49 | Read by Kristin Hughes (1974-2021) |
| Le Premier Pas | 36:44 | Read by Kristin Hughes (1974-2021) |
| Wilful Murder | 32:38 | Read by Kristin Hughes (1974-2021) |
| Nine Points of the Law | 38:27 | Read by Kristin Hughes (1974-2021) |
| The Return Match | 34:51 | Read by Kristin Hughes (1974-2021) |
| The Gift of the Emperor | 56:06 | Read by Kristin Hughes (1974-2021) |
Reviews
amusing stories
Bobocel
Sherlock Holmes told Watson on a few occasions that if he had been a criminal he would have been the best. this book is very similar to Sherlock holmes but with criminals instead of detectives. in my opinion, it is not as well written but amusing nonetheless. the narrator does a fantastic job which makes it that much more enjoyable.
Good opener to a series
mikezane
The cracksman is good, but is he good enough to thwart everyone who tries to stop him? And what about Bunny, his able-bodied assistant? This is an excellent tale, and the reader did a wonderful job. Enjoy!
Don't rush when comparing it to Holmes
Xardas
Its a tricky matter of presenting the term of making a comparison. As books they are two different worlds and much like tastes shouldn't be involved in their individual worth.it was instantly clear to me they are meant to be contemporaries.it was never a question of which books are "better" but is one vs the other- in the game not the console they are both ingenious bored kids but they have key differences: one is a criminal other is a detective Holmes is antisocial,and often critical of the very social figures he represents,they are often upper class But Raffles...Raffles is cheeky and it shows in his crimes he is a social butterfly and commands easily,yet he is not immune to running out of funds like H. it takes effort to uphold his facade of a club member. How would they fare? Who would win? Why? would they be pals? they share traits too Criminally underrated and obscure,the cracksman does not focus on the mystery element mainly but in experiencing the personality and trade. The reader sounds hot.
Some of the stories are better than others.
Richard in Alabama
Fun book to listen to. Today we'd call Raffles a sociopath, I think, even if a mostly nonviolent one. Not as good as his brother-in-law Conan Doyle, to whom he dedicates the book, but Hornung certainly contributes something a little unique to Victorian crime fiction. Raffles and Bunny reminded me less of Holmes and Watson, and more of Lord Peter Wimsey and his man Bunter. Perhaps, though, it was partly because I had previously listened to Kristin Hughes read chapters from <b>Who's Body?</b>, which she did an equally good job on.
Decent book, good recording
notmyname
The Raffles stories aren't as rereadable and iconic as the Holmes stories, but they're interesting nonetheless. The reader for these recordings is female, with a smooth voice and a clear, deliberate reading style. She does a great, grim, sinister Raffles and a soft, weak, almost simpering Bunny. The characters are simple and archtypical, so there's not a lot of room for depth, but she doesn't make them into caricatures of themselves.
Rest Quietly and Peacefully
potuc
Though you died young, you lived well. None of us on LibriVox know much about you, besides your voice and name, but any death deserves commemoration. Rise up from your body and let your soul drift away into the afterlife... I hope you can read this from wherever you are now. Rest peacefully, Kristin Hughes...
not bad
antony lubbe
the narrator read well. not trying to read in many strange voices, but just normally in her own voice letting the story speak for itself. the story itself is a group of separate and fun adventures between a thief an his favorite acomplace.
Delightful
Thomas Covenant
Get in touch with your darkside. Well read and extremely intriguing stories. The ongoing story of two friends and their adventures in survival in late 19th century England. Very enjoyable!!