Greene, Graham

The Return of A.J. Raffles

New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 1975. First Edition. Hardcover. “With the astonishing versatility that has always been the hallmark of his genius, Graham Greene, the most distinguished novelist of our times, has now written “an Edwardian comedy.” His central figure is the notorious and ever-popular Raffles, the gentleman burglar of E.W. Hornung’s immortal The Amateur Cracksman, and the cast of characters includes the Marquis of Queensberry, Raffles’ friend and companion Bunny, HRH the Prince of Wales, a Scotland Yard inspector, and Captain von Blixen, an inefficient member of Imperial Germany’s notoriously efficient spy service.” (From front flap) An excellent homage to—and even reinvention of—the gentleman thief that E.W. Hornung (1866-1921) created to rile up 19th century London. Graham Greene (1904 - 1991) has taken E.W. Hornung’s iconic cast of characters and given them new depths to explore—both the world within and the world outside. The Return of A.J. Raffles is a testament to Greene’s literary ability, taking an established character and world and revitalizing them, blending homage with innovation. Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket: presumed First Edition though not explicated at copyright page, First Printing, as indicated by number sequence thereon. Book is in Very Fine condition with minor rubbing along spine. Dust jacket is in Fine condition with a mild closed tear near bottom of spine, along with a minor open tear at the top of spine, and mild bumping along top. Very Fine / Fine. [Item #6377]

Price: $55.00