The Amateur Cracksman

About E. W. Hornung

Born in Middlesborough England author poet and journalist Ernest William Hornung (18661921) moved to Australia at 17 having suffered from ill health most of his life in the hopes that his constitution might benefit from the change in climate. Although he only lived there for two years his experiences there put him on the path of becoming a writer and would inspire his work for years to come not least A Bride from the Bush (1890) his first novel. Hornung had developed an interest in urban crime and criminal behaviour while working as a journalist during the Jack the Ripper murders which would permeate his fiction most notably in the form of Hornungs most famous character A.J. Raffles gentleman thief. Judith John (glossary) is a writer and editor specializing in literature and history. A former secondary school English Language and Literature teacher she has subsequently worked as an editor on major educational projects including English A: Literature for the Pearson International Baccalaureate series. Judiths major research interests include Romantic and Gothic literature and Renaissance drama.