but when i shake it out, all i can see is that raffles is a dated sociopath cricket player, who will not quit his sphere despite his inability to afford it and is a relic of the deep divide in classes as much as cricket and the public school system. it would seem that the victorians would identify with the idea that crime was understandable if it prevented one from quitting their 'rightful' sphere, and for those who stood a high moral ground hornung introduced the misgivings of bunny (his sidekick and former fag at public school) as a balance to raffles' complete lack of ethics.Īs members of the unmonied upper class, both raffles and bunny are part of Society and are terrified to lose their standing (though not so much so that they quit the gambling and the tailors that have brought them low) in the class system they so adore.

as it turns out raffles doesn't actually subscribe to the code he lays out - he seems to make excuses for lapses of conduct often, perhaps revealing how little it means - see the story quoted above for a revision of his 'no murder' rule, or 'A Costume Piece' for how he decides to go ahead with a robbery which won't alleviate his financial constraints but simply for the challenge. Much has been made of the fact that raffles has a code - he does not murder he only steals when he has need. Just think of it! Think of coming here and talking to the men, very likely about the murder itself and knowing you've done it and wondering how they'd look if they knew! Oh, it would be great, simply great!' - from 'Wilful Murder' I've told you before that the biggest man alive is the man who's committed a murder, and not yet been found out at least he ought to be, but he so very seldom has the soul to appreciate himself. 'A matter of opinion, my dear Bunny I don't mean it for rot. before reading this collection of stories, i had visions of hutton's character nate ford, and the great french character arsène lupin or baroness orczy's scarlett pimpernel but instead found raffles anticipating leopold and loeb:

there is no doubt that raffles is in some ways the progenitor of this type of character but in reading the book i realized the only redress was being made to 'the cracksman''s pocket.

and i can't say i don't normally adore the idea of working outside the law to balance the scales of justice - i watch timothy hutton's modern-day robin hood crew on leverage as often as possible. The idea of raffles, the gentleman thief, obverse of the legendary sherlock holmes, gentleman detective (the creation of hornung's esteemed brother-in-law arthur conan doyle), thrills me.

Aj raffles stories