The Amateur Cracksman · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Amateur Cracksman by E. W. Hornung.
Skim names here — open a free preview to see character cards and Character Web beside the page as you read.
A. J. Raffles
major
Also known as Raffles, Mr. Raffles, the great Raffles, old Raffles, Players Old Raffles
Raffles moves through London as a beloved sporting hero, dining at his club and keeping blazers for every occasion, while quietly casing the same houses he visits as a guest. When Bunny, his former fag, confesses bankruptcy at midnight, Raffles offers not charity but partnership, revealing a taste for risk that borders on appetite. His charm and nerve set the moral trap at the heart of the book: crime, he argues, is simply honesty done thoroughly.
Bunny
major
Also known as Good old Bunny, Poor old Bunny
Bunny arrives at Raffles's rooms with worthless checks and no future, and leaves as the lookout, driver, and conscience he never quite wanted to be. He flinches at murder talk, frets over warrants, and still follows his dazzling friend into one job after another, half in awe and half in dread. His running commentary gives the stories their intimacy, letting readers feel both the thrill and the queasy cost of Raffles's trade.
Inspector Mackenzie
supporting
Also known as good old Mackenzie, Mackenzie, Mr. Mackenzie
Mackenzie boards ships, studies ventilators, and reads the small print of his warrants with a patience that unnerves even Raffles. He is no fool and no villain, just a professional doing his job against a man he plainly respects and intends to catch. His appearances sharpen the stakes of every caper, reminding readers that the game cannot stay charming forever.
Reginald Crawshay
supporting
Also known as Crawshay, good old Crawshay, Mr. Reginald Crawshay, Mr. Crawshay, Old Crawshay, friend Crawshay
Crawshay sheds his collar and boots in Raffles's flat with the ease of a man who has played gentleman only under duress, and talks business before whiskey. He knows Raffles's secrets and makes clear that if he is caught, he will take his hosts down with him. His visit forces Raffles and Bunny into a reluctant, dangerous favour that tests their nerve and their partnership.
J. M. Craggs
supporting
Also known as the Hon . J. M. Craggs, Craggs, old Craggs, this man Craggs, the Hon . John Montagu Craggs
Craggs moves through the same clubs and drawing rooms as Raffles, but with a reputation already fraying at the edges. His taste for cards and his willingness to bend the rules make him both a convenient ally and a liability in Raffles's plans. He embodies the respectable world's own quiet criminality, the hypocrisy Raffles loves to point out.
Captain von Heumann
supporting
Also known as von, von Heumann, Von Heumann, Herr Captain Wilhelm von Heumann
Von Heumann is a courteous, self-satisfied rival who plays cricket against Raffles and carries a priceless pearl on a diplomatic errand. His weakness for drink and for a certain young woman named Amy make him easy prey for Raffles's patient, flirtatious reconnaissance. He matters because his cabin, his sleep, and his mission become the stage for one of the book's most elaborate and morally ambiguous jobs.
The Captain
minor
Also known as the captain, The captain
A ship captain involved in transporting stolen goods.
Miss Werner
minor
Also known as Miss Werner, The charming Miss Werner
A charming young woman who attracts Raffles's attention.
Ewbank
minor
Also known as old Ewbank, poor Ewbank
A victim of one of Raffles's schemes, a wealthy man with a past.
Sir Bernard Debenham
minor
Also known as Sir Bernard Debenham, Sir Bernard, young Debenham, old Debenham
A baronet whose house is targeted by Raffles for a burglary.
Reuben Rosenthall
minor
Also known as Rosenthall, old Rosenthall
A wealthy diamond merchant and target of a Raffles heist.
Lord Amersteth
minor
Also known as old Amersteth, Lord Amersteth
A nobleman whose country house is burgled by Raffles.
Bennett Addenbrooke
minor
Also known as Addenbrooke, Mr. Bennett Addenbrooke, Mr. Addenbrooke, Bennett Addenbrooke
A wealthy man whose home is robbed by Raffles and Bunny.
Jack Rutter
minor
Also known as Poor Jack Rutter, a Jack Rutter, Rutter
A former friend of Raffles who gets into trouble and seeks help.
The Doctor
minor
Also known as the doctor, The doctor
A physician who attends to Raffles after an injury.
Billy Purvis
minor
Also known as That brute Purvis, Billy Purvis, Purvis
A violent criminal who threatens Raffles and Bunny.
Old Baird
minor
Also known as Old Baird, old Baird, Baird, Angus Baird
A miserly old man rumored to have been cheated by Raffles.
Miss Melhuish
minor
Also known as Miss Melhuish
A young woman who becomes involved in a scheme with Raffles.
Mac
minor
Also known as Mac
A Scottish acquaintance of Raffles, possibly a police officer.
Lady Melrose
minor
Also known as old Lady Melrose, Melrose, Lady Melrose
A society hostess whose party is attended by Raffles.
Viscount Crowley
minor
Also known as Viscount Crowley, Crowley, young Crowley, Lord Crowley
A young nobleman who gambles heavily and crosses paths with Raffles.
Old Johnson
minor
Also known as Old Johnson, old Johnson
An elderly man who appears briefly in a story.
Delilah
minor
Also known as Delilah
A name used in a story within the book, possibly a code name.
