E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung

Born in 1866, Ernest William Hornung was an English novelist, short story writer, and poet who became famous for the Raffles stories. He was educated at Uppingham School, but poor health led him to leave England for Australia as a young man. That time abroad gave him material for some of his early fiction and helped shape the lively, observant style that runs through his work.

Hornung's most lasting creation was A. J. Raffles, the elegant amateur cracksman whose adventures offered a clever twist on the detective craze of the day. Instead of following the law, Hornung made readers root for a charming criminal, and the result became one of the memorable series of popular fiction from the period. He was also Arthur Conan Doyle's brother-in-law, a connection often noted because Raffles appeared as a kind of playful counterpart to Sherlock Holmes.

Later in life, Hornung published poetry as well as fiction and took part in YMCA work connected with the First World War, later writing about those experiences. He died in France in 1921, but his reputation has endured through the Raffles tales, which still appeal to readers who enjoy wit, atmosphere, and old-school suspense.