A Thief in the Night: A Book of Raffles' Adventures

"A Thief in the Night: A Book of Raffles' Adventures" by E. W. Hornung is a novel written in the late 19th century, capturing a blend of adventure, intrigue, and crime. The story follows the charismatic antihero, A. J. Raffles, a gentleman thief, and his companion Bunny Manders, as they embark on a series of daring escapades that challenge moral boundaries and societal norms. The opening of the book sets the stage for an exploration of Raffles’ character through Bunny's perspective, revealing a tumultuous friendship built on both admiration and moral conflict. The narrative begins with Bunny reminiscing about their past, filled with both camaraderie and tension caused by Raffles’ penchant for crime. During a conversation over dinner, Raffles piques Bunny's curiosity about potential thefts, especially involving a lady's jewels, igniting a mixture of conflict and temptation. The chapter concludes with a climactic moment where Bunny discovers that the girl he once loved is unexpectedly at the very house Raffles intends to rob, setting the tone for the moral dilemmas and complexities of their adventures ahead. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Ernest William Hornung was an English author and poet known for writing the A. J. Raffles series of stories about a gentleman thief in late 19th-century London. Hornung was educated at Uppingham School; as a result of poor health he left the school in December 1883 to travel to Sydney, where he stayed for two years. He drew on his Australian experiences as a background when he began writing, initially short stories and later novels.