William Warren Bartley

William Warren Bartley III, who wrote under the pen name E. W. Hornung, is an English author who is best known for creating the legendary character of Raffles, the gentleman thief. Bartley was born in 1866 and he had a love for writing from an early age. His first novel was published in 1890, The Chronicles of Martin Hewitt, which was followed by the Raffles stories.

Bartley's first and most famous creation was Raffles, who was based on a character that was created by his brother Arthur. Raffles is the main character in a series of stories that focused on the adventures and exploits of a gentleman thief. Bartley wrote nine stories that featured Raffles and these tales showed a different side to the criminal, one that undermined conventional notions of morality and justice.

Raffles co-starred in these stories with Bunny Manders and the two forged a unique partnership as they tried to outwit the law. The stories featured ingenious plots and plenty of action, as Raffles and Bunny were often pursued by Scotland Yard detectives. The stories were praised by critics and fans alike, and they were later adapted into films, television series and comic books.

Despite the successes of the Raffles stories, Bartley wrote very little else during his career. He wrote a few other novels and a handful of short stories, but most of his later work was forgotten by the public. He left behind a legacy of writing, however, and his influence can still be seen in modern crime fiction.

Bartley died in 1921 at the age of 55 and his death was recorded with a funeral procession and a memorial service. He was remembered fondly by the people of British literature, who praised him for creating Raffles and for the notable contributions that he had made to the genre. Bartley was unable to finish the planned final book in the Raffles saga and it was left to his brother Arthur to complete the work.

Today, Bartley is remembered as a pioneer in the crime-writing genre who pushed the boundaries of genre conventions with his unique and innovative stories. Bartley’s literary legacy lives on and his works continue to be enjoyed by readers around the world. His works remain popular with readers and they continue to be adapted into various formats, both on the page and on the screen.