Scan barcode
A review by smitchy
Raffles by E.W. Hornung
1.0
I am going to start by saying this has not aged well! Not just the overt racism and sexism that one pretty much expects in an older work (Raffles originally appeared in 1898) but the character of Raffles and his motivations really don't stand up well to changed attitudes.
Raffles is a very Sherlock Holmes like character: he is arrogant, short tempered, employs disguises so clever that his closest pal Bunny can't recognise him. He treats the police with contempt, makes the most of his upper-class social position and is almost unbearably smug - even when the crime doesn't come off. Bunny is his Watson - a little dim, his role is to show us the readers what a genius Raffles is compared to mere mortals. This Sherlockian vibe is no co-incidence Hornung was married to Arthur Conan Doyle's sister and the two writers clearly compared notes. Only unlike Sherlock and Watson, Raffles is just an arrogant, spoiled rich guy without the charm that has made Sherlock such an immortal character and Bunny comes across as a love-sick puppy who is kind of in an abusive relationship. Bunny's increasing ethical unease through the stories show him to be, if not an entirely moral character, certainly more conscious-stricken than Raffles and is often swayed by Raffles who he has clearly hero-worshiped since school.
I did appreciate that this edition (published 2013) has a comprehensive introduction to both the author and the stories as well as an extensive notes section in the back with great explanations of the word usage, historical references, social references, and other things that would have been common knowledge for the original audience but a modern reader is unlikely to be able to interpret.
Spoilers ahead:
The Ides of March - We are introduced to Raffles through the words of "Bunny" (there's a posh school nickname) who is hoping to hit up his old school friend, and total cool guy, Raffles for some cash. Bunny got in over his head at cards and is going to be exposed as the broke-arse he is when the banks open in the morning and his cheque bounces. Naturally, being of the upper crust, this means if he can't get the cash he may as well just shoot himself because life will be over! Only it turns out Raffles is broke too, but that's okay because he knows someone who can "lend" some money to them. Off they go, Raffles lets himself into a house (they must be GREAT friends thinks Bunny) but Bunny starts to get a bit suspicious when they don't use any light and have to be quiet (he isn't the brightest, poor old Buns). Raffles comes clean - This isn't really a friend's place but an apartment next to a jeweller's shop and they are not here so much to "borrow" as to "steal". Bunny being the stand-up guy he is only has a minor ethical quibble before he declares himself all in and proceeds to help Raffles rob the place - after all becoming a social pariah is worse than being a burglar!
A Costume Piece - Raffles meets a diamond merchant who boasts about how much the diamonds he constantly wears are worth, so naturally Raffles decides to steal it. In spite of the owner also boasting about his security measures, because what is life without a challenge? Raffles goes undercover Sherlock Holmes style to suss out the job. Bunny, thinking he is helping as Raffles has once again NOT TOLD HIM ANYTHING, also has a snoop around. Raffles, of course, chews Bunny out for not just knowing that Raffles was already there. They finally get on with the job, get caught immediately, Raffles escapes, and then rescues Bunny by pretending to be a policeman. Neither of them get identified because they were wearing balaclavas which the people they were robbing didn't think to remove when they collared them??
Gentlemen & Players - Being a "Gentleman" Raffles, naturally, is really awesome at cricket. But he couldn't lower himself to playing for money (so crass) so instead he steals stuff. In this story there is a country house party where some select gentlemen are invited for a casual game against some Players (cricketers who get paid to play professionally). At the house there is also a rich lady with some really fancy jewels. You see where this is going? But then! A policeman appears. Bunny freaks out, but Raffles isn't worried. You see there is a professional burglar hiding amongst those low-class players (can't trust anyone who actually works for their money), Raffles recognised this safe-cracker immediately, just as he recognised the undercover cop. In the middle of the night a heist! Foiled by the honest policeman with assistance from Bunny. The burglar is caught, but not before the jewels go missing! The burglar is thrown in gaol where such a low-class ruffian clearly belongs! But the jewels aren't recovered! And what was Raffles up to in the hub-bub?
Le Premier Pas - The only story that I actually enjoyed, if only for the setting. This is how Raffles got started in crime. He was in Australia, touring with his cricket pals (as a gentleman of course, not one of those crass, paid players), and broke. He remembers a distant cousin who might have some cash - after all the man is a bank manager and a bit of a hero after foiling an armed robbery - who better to hit up for a loan? So Raffles borrows a horse and sets of for Yea and the bank branch his cousin manages. Victoria in the 1880's was still pretty wild country, even now with good roads and cars Yea is about 2 hours north of Melbourne (and Google tells me about 6 hours by bike which I guess would be similar to horse?). Hornung's description of the rough track, bushland and the town in that time was really interesting for me.
So Raffles sets off, gets given some dodgy directions, and only gets in as it is getting dark (knowing the Australian bush it is surprising he wasn't lost forever going off track). The Bank worker greets him and Raffles realises that he has been mistaken for his cousin who has not yet arrived to his new post. Not one to waste an opportunity, Raffles makes the decision to embrace the role and makes sure he gets a grand tour before going to bed for the night. Once everyone is asleep, Raffles sneaks out, enters the vault, grabs the cash, and then hears his cousin banging on the door! The poor cousin is really having a bad day! He has been waylaid by bushrangers (that damned Ned Kelly!), lost his horse, had to walk for miles, got lost in the dark, finally made it only to told that the "manager" had already arrived! Identity sorted out, the cousin rallies the staff and the hunt begins for the impostor. Raffles escapes due to some clever planning and a bit of luck, with a new passion in life.
Wilful Murder - Raffles has been recognised by his fence who is going to put the bite on him through the age-old medium of blackmail. So, naturally, the only thing to do is to kill the fence. Bunny tags along hoping to find a different solution but Raffles is set on his course. But never fear we are saved from watching our "hero" commit mortal sin because someone else got to the fence first! Of course, Raffles, whose sympathies are with the killer, helps the guy to flee the country. Bunny is not so sure that any moral decisions have been made this night and this marks the beginnings of conflict with Raffles.
Nine Points to the Law - Raffles and Bunny are once again strapped for cash. Mainly because they refuse to get jobs. Bunny is reluctant at first to engage in another adventure with Raffles as he is still feeling a bit ethically challenged by Raffles' willingness to murder people. They decide to put their skills to use for good this time to retrieve a painting illegally sold by the son of the owner. Raffles has a plan and it involves getting Bunny to distract the new owner. Raffles as per usual doesn't tell Bunny the details and then gets ticked off when Bunny tries to help.
The Return Match - The criminal captured in the story Gentlemen & Players, named Crawshay, has escaped from gaol, and Raffles is certain that this man will track him down as Crawshay knows it was not he who stole the jewels. And he certainly does, leading the police directly to Raffles' apartment. Raffles has utmost respect for this escaped felon and agrees to misdirect the police in order to help him escape, putting both Raffles and Bunny at risk of detection by the police for their own nefarious activities.
The Gift of the Emperor - An impossibly valuable pearl, a sea voyage, a daring heist and a desperate getaway! Raffles once again proves to be an arrogant twat who doesn't tell Bunny the full story and yet expects him to somehow just know what is going on. It is the last story in this collection and quite frankly I was happy that is was over.
Raffles is a very Sherlock Holmes like character: he is arrogant, short tempered, employs disguises so clever that his closest pal Bunny can't recognise him. He treats the police with contempt, makes the most of his upper-class social position and is almost unbearably smug - even when the crime doesn't come off. Bunny is his Watson - a little dim, his role is to show us the readers what a genius Raffles is compared to mere mortals. This Sherlockian vibe is no co-incidence Hornung was married to Arthur Conan Doyle's sister and the two writers clearly compared notes. Only unlike Sherlock and Watson, Raffles is just an arrogant, spoiled rich guy without the charm that has made Sherlock such an immortal character and Bunny comes across as a love-sick puppy who is kind of in an abusive relationship. Bunny's increasing ethical unease through the stories show him to be, if not an entirely moral character, certainly more conscious-stricken than Raffles and is often swayed by Raffles who he has clearly hero-worshiped since school.
I did appreciate that this edition (published 2013) has a comprehensive introduction to both the author and the stories as well as an extensive notes section in the back with great explanations of the word usage, historical references, social references, and other things that would have been common knowledge for the original audience but a modern reader is unlikely to be able to interpret.
Spoilers ahead:
The Ides of March - We are introduced to Raffles through the words of "Bunny" (there's a posh school nickname) who is hoping to hit up his old school friend, and total cool guy, Raffles for some cash. Bunny got in over his head at cards and is going to be exposed as the broke-arse he is when the banks open in the morning and his cheque bounces. Naturally, being of the upper crust, this means if he can't get the cash he may as well just shoot himself because life will be over! Only it turns out Raffles is broke too, but that's okay because he knows someone who can "lend" some money to them. Off they go, Raffles lets himself into a house (they must be GREAT friends thinks Bunny) but Bunny starts to get a bit suspicious when they don't use any light and have to be quiet (he isn't the brightest, poor old Buns). Raffles comes clean - This isn't really a friend's place but an apartment next to a jeweller's shop and they are not here so much to "borrow" as to "steal". Bunny being the stand-up guy he is only has a minor ethical quibble before he declares himself all in and proceeds to help Raffles rob the place - after all becoming a social pariah is worse than being a burglar!
A Costume Piece - Raffles meets a diamond merchant who boasts about how much the diamonds he constantly wears are worth, so naturally Raffles decides to steal it. In spite of the owner also boasting about his security measures, because what is life without a challenge? Raffles goes undercover Sherlock Holmes style to suss out the job. Bunny, thinking he is helping as Raffles has once again NOT TOLD HIM ANYTHING, also has a snoop around. Raffles, of course, chews Bunny out for not just knowing that Raffles was already there. They finally get on with the job, get caught immediately, Raffles escapes, and then rescues Bunny by pretending to be a policeman. Neither of them get identified because they were wearing balaclavas which the people they were robbing didn't think to remove when they collared them??
Gentlemen & Players - Being a "Gentleman" Raffles, naturally, is really awesome at cricket. But he couldn't lower himself to playing for money (so crass) so instead he steals stuff. In this story there is a country house party where some select gentlemen are invited for a casual game against some Players (cricketers who get paid to play professionally). At the house there is also a rich lady with some really fancy jewels. You see where this is going? But then! A policeman appears. Bunny freaks out, but Raffles isn't worried. You see there is a professional burglar hiding amongst those low-class players (can't trust anyone who actually works for their money), Raffles recognised this safe-cracker immediately, just as he recognised the undercover cop. In the middle of the night a heist! Foiled by the honest policeman with assistance from Bunny. The burglar is caught, but not before the jewels go missing! The burglar is thrown in gaol where such a low-class ruffian clearly belongs! But the jewels aren't recovered! And what was Raffles up to in the hub-bub?
Le Premier Pas - The only story that I actually enjoyed, if only for the setting. This is how Raffles got started in crime. He was in Australia, touring with his cricket pals (as a gentleman of course, not one of those crass, paid players), and broke. He remembers a distant cousin who might have some cash - after all the man is a bank manager and a bit of a hero after foiling an armed robbery - who better to hit up for a loan? So Raffles borrows a horse and sets of for Yea and the bank branch his cousin manages. Victoria in the 1880's was still pretty wild country, even now with good roads and cars Yea is about 2 hours north of Melbourne (and Google tells me about 6 hours by bike which I guess would be similar to horse?). Hornung's description of the rough track, bushland and the town in that time was really interesting for me.
So Raffles sets off, gets given some dodgy directions, and only gets in as it is getting dark (knowing the Australian bush it is surprising he wasn't lost forever going off track). The Bank worker greets him and Raffles realises that he has been mistaken for his cousin who has not yet arrived to his new post. Not one to waste an opportunity, Raffles makes the decision to embrace the role and makes sure he gets a grand tour before going to bed for the night. Once everyone is asleep, Raffles sneaks out, enters the vault, grabs the cash, and then hears his cousin banging on the door! The poor cousin is really having a bad day! He has been waylaid by bushrangers (that damned Ned Kelly!), lost his horse, had to walk for miles, got lost in the dark, finally made it only to told that the "manager" had already arrived! Identity sorted out, the cousin rallies the staff and the hunt begins for the impostor. Raffles escapes due to some clever planning and a bit of luck, with a new passion in life.
Wilful Murder - Raffles has been recognised by his fence who is going to put the bite on him through the age-old medium of blackmail. So, naturally, the only thing to do is to kill the fence. Bunny tags along hoping to find a different solution but Raffles is set on his course. But never fear we are saved from watching our "hero" commit mortal sin because someone else got to the fence first! Of course, Raffles, whose sympathies are with the killer, helps the guy to flee the country. Bunny is not so sure that any moral decisions have been made this night and this marks the beginnings of conflict with Raffles.
Nine Points to the Law - Raffles and Bunny are once again strapped for cash. Mainly because they refuse to get jobs. Bunny is reluctant at first to engage in another adventure with Raffles as he is still feeling a bit ethically challenged by Raffles' willingness to murder people. They decide to put their skills to use for good this time to retrieve a painting illegally sold by the son of the owner. Raffles has a plan and it involves getting Bunny to distract the new owner. Raffles as per usual doesn't tell Bunny the details and then gets ticked off when Bunny tries to help.
The Return Match - The criminal captured in the story Gentlemen & Players, named Crawshay, has escaped from gaol, and Raffles is certain that this man will track him down as Crawshay knows it was not he who stole the jewels. And he certainly does, leading the police directly to Raffles' apartment. Raffles has utmost respect for this escaped felon and agrees to misdirect the police in order to help him escape, putting both Raffles and Bunny at risk of detection by the police for their own nefarious activities.
The Gift of the Emperor - An impossibly valuable pearl, a sea voyage, a daring heist and a desperate getaway! Raffles once again proves to be an arrogant twat who doesn't tell Bunny the full story and yet expects him to somehow just know what is going on. It is the last story in this collection and quite frankly I was happy that is was over.