The Criminologists' Club
The Criminologists' Club is a collection of short stories written by E.W. Hornung in 1908. The book features the adventures of A.J. Raffles, a gentleman thief who uses his skills to steal from the wealthy and give to the poor. Each story revolves around a different heist or caper that Raffles and his partner Bunny pull off with their signature style and wit. The book is considered a classic of British crime fiction and has been adapted for film, television, and radio.
By E.W. Hornung · First published 1908 · Genre: Mystery, Crime Fiction, Thriller · 8,912 words
First lines
"But who are they, Raffles, and where's their house? There's no such club on the list in Whitaker."
"The Criminologists, my dear Bunny, are too few for a local habitation, and too select to tell their name in Gath. They are merely so many solemn students of contemporary crime, who meet and dine periodically at each other's clubs or houses."
What this Textopian page supports
The Criminologists' Club is listed on Textopian as a short story by E.W. Hornung, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: E.W. Hornung
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Crime Fiction, Thriller, Literary Fiction, Drama
- Length: 8,912 words
- Structure: 1 section, 175 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Criminologists' Club 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
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Criminologists' Club?
- How does this short story by E.W. Hornung fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Puzzled by Carolyn Wells
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- The Sealed Room by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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- The Adventure Of The Cross Eyed Q C by Grant Allen
Genres
- Mystery — The plot revolves around a dinner with criminologists discussing crime, which is central to the narrative.
- Crime Fiction — The themes focus on crime, criminals, and the psychology behind criminal behavior.
- Thriller — The tension and suspense surrounding the dinner and the potential for criminal activity create a thrilling atmosphere.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is sophisticated, with a focus on character development and social commentary.
Tags
mystery · crime · detective · suspense · thriller · investigation · club · criminal psychology · fiction · literature · plot twist · whodunit