- Usage
- Public Domain
LibriVox recording of The Amateur Cracksman, by E.W. Hornung. Read by Kristin Hughes.
“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)
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Download M4B (147MB)
Download M4B (147MB)
Reviews
Reviewer:
Vamelo
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 24, 2017
Subject: Most Excellent
Subject: Most Excellent
Marvelous job by Kristin Hughes. Her dramatic flair was just enough - the dual voices consistent throughout making the duo of characters come to life.
Very impressive.
Very impressive.
Reviewer:
screammame
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February 14, 2016
Subject: great story and read
Subject: great story and read
Bravo!!!!
Reviewer:
Richard in Alabama
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February 28, 2014
Subject: Some of the stories are better than others.
Subject: Some of the stories are better than others.
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 Who's Body?, which she did an equally good job on.
Reviewer:
lanternland
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August 5, 2013
Subject: Very good reader
Subject: Very good reader
Very nice reading indeed, but my attention wandered in some of the stories. I liked the last chapter best.
Reviewer:
GonzoRanch
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February 3, 2013
Subject: quite enjoyable
Subject: quite enjoyable
"Get in touch with your darkside"?? (Thomas Covenant) HAHA, that's great, & quite on-target.
Reviewer:
mikezane
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March 13, 2012
Subject: Good opener to a series
Subject: Good opener to a series
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!
This is an excellent tale, and the reader did a wonderful job. Enjoy!
Reviewer:
notmyname
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November 27, 2009
Subject: Decent book, good recording
Subject: Decent book, good recording
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.
Reviewer:
Thomas Covenant
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 17, 2007
Subject: Delightful
Subject: Delightful
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!!
