The Chest of Silver by E.W. Hornung
The Chest of Silver is a novel by E.W. Hornung that follows the adventures of gentleman thief A.J. Raffles and his sidekick Bunny Manders. The story revolves around their attempt to steal a valuable silver chest from a wealthy collector, but things take an unexpected turn when they discover that the chest is not what it seems. Along the way, they encounter danger, betrayal, and unexpected allies as they try to unravel the mystery of the chest's true contents.
By E.W. Hornung · First published 1897 · Genre: Crime Fiction, Mystery, Adventure · 6,754 words
First lines
Like all the tribe of which I held him head, Raffles professed the liveliest disdain for unwieldy plunder of any description; it might be old Sheffield, or it might be solid silver or gold, but if the thing was not to be concealed about the person, he would none whatever of it. Unlike the rest of us, however, in this as in all else, Raffles would not infrequently allow the acquisitive spirit of the mere collector to silence the dictates of professional prudence. The old oak chests, and even the mahogany wine-cooler, for which he had doubtless paid like an honest citizen, were thus immovable with pieces of crested plate, which he had neither the temerity to use nor the hardihood to melt or sell. He could but gloat over them behind locked doors, as I used to tell him, and at last one afternoon I caught him at it. It was in the year after that of my novitiate, a halcyon period at the Albany, when Raffles left no crib uncracked, and I played second-murderer every time.
What this Textopian page supports
The Chest of Silver is listed on Textopian as a novel by E.W. Hornung, dated 1897 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: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Crime Fiction, Mystery, Adventure, Thriller, Literary Fiction
- Length: 6,754 words
- Structure: 1 section, 116 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Chest of Silver 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 The Chest of Silver?
- 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
- The Raffles Relics by E. W. Hornung
- The Return Match by E. W. Hornung
- The Wrong House by E. W. Hornung
- The Knees Of The Gods by E. W. Hornung
- Le Premier Pas by E. W. Hornung
- The Shadow Of A Man by E. W. Hornung
Genres
- Crime Fiction — The plot revolves around a burglary and the criminal activities of the protagonist, Raffles, making crime the central theme.
- Mystery — The story includes elements of suspense and intrigue, particularly surrounding the theft and the identity of the criminals.
- Adventure — The narrative features adventurous escapades and the thrill of planning and executing a heist.
- Thriller — The tension and urgency in the plot, especially regarding the potential consequences of the crime, align with thriller elements.
Tags
mystery · adventure · crime · heist · suspense · thriller · detective · intrigue · plot twist · treasure · deception · victorian