A Costume Piece by E.W. Hornung
A Costume Piece by E.W. Hornung is a novel set in Victorian England that follows the adventures of a gentleman thief named A.J. Raffles and his sidekick Bunny Manders. The story revolves around their attempts to steal valuable items from wealthy individuals while avoiding capture by the police. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles and challenges that test their skills and ingenuity.
By E.W. Hornung · First published 1894 · Genre: Crime Fiction, Adventure, Mystery · 7,589 words
First lines
London was just then talking of one whose name is already a name and nothing more. Reuben Rosenthall had made his millions on the diamond fields of South Africa, and had come home to enjoy them according to his lights; how he went to work will scarcely be forgotten by any reader of the halfpenny evening papers, which revelled in endless anecdotes of his original indigence and present prodigality, varied with interesting particulars of the extraordinary establishment which the millionaire set up in St. John's Wood. Here he kept a retinue of Kaffirs, who were literally his slaves; and hence he would sally, with enormous diamonds in his shirt and on his finger, in the convoy of a prize-fighter of heinous repute, who was not, however, by any means the worst element in the Rosenthall mélange.
What this Textopian page supports
A Costume Piece is listed on Textopian as a novel by E.W. Hornung, dated 1894 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: E.W. Hornung
- Date: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Crime Fiction, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller, Literary Fiction
- Length: 7,589 words
- Structure: 1 section, 125 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Costume Piece by E.W. Hornung
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Costume Piece?
- How does this novel by E.W. Hornung fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Crime Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Unbidden Guest by E. W. Hornung
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- Tiny Luttrell by E. W. Hornung
- A Bad Night by E. W. Hornung
Genres
- Crime Fiction — The plot revolves around a heist and the criminal activities of the main characters, Raffles and Bunny.
- Adventure — The narrative includes elements of suspense and excitement as the characters plan and execute a risky robbery.
- Mystery — The story involves uncovering secrets and the tension of the unknown, particularly regarding the characters' intentions and the millionaire's background.
- Thriller — The high stakes and danger associated with the robbery create a thrilling atmosphere throughout the narrative.
Tags
mystery · crime · detective · suspense · thriller · literary fiction · short story · plot twist · character study · Victorian era · social commentary · deception