E.W. Hornung

E.W. Hornung Biography

Ernest William Hornung (7 June 1866 – 22 March 1921) was an English author and poet, best known for creating the character A.J. Raffles, a gentleman thief in late Victorian London. Born in Middlesbrough, England, Hornung was the third son of John Peter Hornung, a Hungarian immigrant, and Harriet Armstrong. Due to health issues, he left Uppingham School in 1883 and traveled to Sydney, Australia, where he stayed for two years, working as a tutor and gaining experiences that influenced his later writings.

Upon returning to England, Hornung began his literary career, publishing his first novel, A Bride from the Bush, in 1890. He gained significant popularity with the creation of A.J. Raffles, who first appeared in The Amateur Cracksman (1899). The Raffles stories were notable for inverting the traditional detective genre, presenting a charismatic thief as the protagonist, a concept that intrigued readers and critics alike.

Hornung married Constance Doyle, the sister of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in 1893, strengthening his ties to the literary community. During World War I, he served in France as part of the YMCA, providing support to soldiers. His health, already delicate, deteriorated further due to his wartime service, leading to his death in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France, on 22 March 1921.

Trivia About E.W. Hornung

• Hornung's creation of A.J. Raffles was influenced by his brother-in-law, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, serving as a literary inversion of the detective character.
• He spent significant time in Australia, and the experiences he gained there are reflected in several of his works.
• Hornung was an avid cricket enthusiast, a passion that is evident in the character of Raffles, who is portrayed as a gentleman cricketer.

Famous Quotes by E.W. Hornung

• "Money lost -- little lost. Honour lost -- much lost. Pluck lost -- all lost."
• "I was afraid I wrote neither well enough nor ill enough for success."
• "Violence is a confession of terrible incompetence."

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who was E.W. Hornung?

E.W. Hornung was an English author and poet, best known for creating the character A.J. Raffles, a gentleman thief in late Victorian London.

What are some of his notable works?

Some of Hornung's notable works include The Amateur Cracksman, A Thief in the Night, and Mr. Justice Raffles.

How was he connected to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?

Hornung was married to Constance Doyle, the sister of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes.

Related Literary Movements

Hornung's works are associated with the crime and detective fiction genre, particularly the subgenre focusing on gentleman thieves and antiheroes.

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