In his autobiography, Conan Doyle wrote: I think I may claim that his famous character Raffles was a kind of inversion of Sherlock Holmes, Bunny playing Watson. He admits as much in his kindly dedication. Bunny is Bunny Manders, real name Harry, Raffles friend from his schooldays. Bunny inherited money, and the two lost touch. But he couldnt hold onto his wealth, and on March 15th , 1891, he knocks at Raffles door seeking his old pals help. The response he receives isnt quite what he hoped for D you think that because a fellow has rooms in this place, and belongs to a club or two, and plays a little cricket, he must necessarily have a balance at the bank? I tell you, my dear man, that at this moment Im as hard up as ever you were. I have nothing butmy wits to live on absolutely nothing else. Raffles agrees to help, butas Bunny discovers when they enter a Bond Street jewelers in the dead of night, his brand of assistance is far from conventional. Their destinies are joined that night, and Hornung charts their adventures in two further collections, The Black Mask and A Thief in the Night.
Raffles is one of Englands most celebrated gentlemen cricketers, but his taste for the high life is more than he can afford legally. His philosophy is very simple: Why should I work when I could steal? he asks in the Ides of March. Why settle down to some humdrum uncongenial billet, when excitement, romance, danger, and a decent living were all going begging together. Of course, its very wrong, but we cant all be moralists, and the distribution of wealth is very wrong to begin with. Raffles has been played on film by Ronald Colman and David Niven and on television by Anthony Valentine and Nigel Havers.
Imagination Theatres new series sees the character returning to American radio for the first time in over sixty years. In the coming months, youll hear faithful recreations of the stories of E.W. Hornung, as well as some new adventures for the master thief and his pal. So light up a Sullivan and raise your glasses to Raffles and Bunny: two fellows who were very, very good at being bad.
The Ides of March: The first episode in our new series introduces Bunny to Raffles life of crime and adventure.
A Costume Piece: South African Diamonds are the cheese in this story and Raffles the hungry mouse. This time though the cat guarding the jewels has his heart set on crushing our mouse forever.
A Gift From God: An American Heiress jewels are our heros new target as well as, perhaps, the lady herself. Will a pretty face be the undoing of Inspector MacKenzies favorite quarry?