Bunny Manders
Encyclopedia
Harry Manders is a character in the popular series of Raffles novels by E.W. Hornung. He is the faithful companion of Raffles, a cricketer
and gentleman thief
, who makes a living robbing the rich in late Victorian
British High Society
.
Whereas Raffles is sharp-witted and cynical, the younger Bunny is more innocent and idealistic. Raffles often uses this naivete to his own benefit, and the two are commonly companions on the various burglaries they commit.
together, though there had been a considerable age gap between them. Bunny had always admired the older, charming Raffles who was a top sportsman and seemed to prevail in anything he did. After some years without contact, the two were reunited at Raffles' chambers for a baccarat game. Bunny returns later to ask for Raffles' help, as Bunny had fallen into considerable debt. Admiring his pluck, Raffles tricks Bunny into joining him on a burglary, and the two become companions in crime. Together the two launch a series of daring robberies on London society, until they are eventually exposed in The Gift of the Emperor
and arrested on board a passenger liner. Raffles leaps overboard and is presumed drowned, while Bunny is returned to England to serve a term in prison. After his release some years later, a mysterious newspaper advertisement reunites him with Raffles and they both go undercover. The two men continue their crime spree, now acting as outlaws.
In 1899 both Raffles and Bunny volunteer for service in the Second Boer War
where soldiers of the British Empire
were fighting the Boer
guerillas. After uncovering an enemy spy, Raffles is killed in battle and Bunny is badly wounded. He returns to England to write Raffles' memoirs.
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
and gentleman thief
Gentleman thief
In the Victorian vernacular, a gentleman thief is a particularly well-behaving and apparently well bred thief. A "gentleman" is usually, but not always, a man with an inherited title of nobility and inherited wealth, who need not work for a living. Such a man steals not in order to gain material...
, who makes a living robbing the rich in late Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
British High Society
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
.
Whereas Raffles is sharp-witted and cynical, the younger Bunny is more innocent and idealistic. Raffles often uses this naivete to his own benefit, and the two are commonly companions on the various burglaries they commit.
History
Raffles and Bunny had attended the same public schoolPublic School (UK)
A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...
together, though there had been a considerable age gap between them. Bunny had always admired the older, charming Raffles who was a top sportsman and seemed to prevail in anything he did. After some years without contact, the two were reunited at Raffles' chambers for a baccarat game. Bunny returns later to ask for Raffles' help, as Bunny had fallen into considerable debt. Admiring his pluck, Raffles tricks Bunny into joining him on a burglary, and the two become companions in crime. Together the two launch a series of daring robberies on London society, until they are eventually exposed in The Gift of the Emperor
The Gift of the Emperor
The Gift of the Emperor is a short story by Ernest William Hornung featuring his popular creation A. J. Raffles. It is included in the original collection of Raffles stories The Amateur Cracksman, first published in 1899....
and arrested on board a passenger liner. Raffles leaps overboard and is presumed drowned, while Bunny is returned to England to serve a term in prison. After his release some years later, a mysterious newspaper advertisement reunites him with Raffles and they both go undercover. The two men continue their crime spree, now acting as outlaws.
In 1899 both Raffles and Bunny volunteer for service in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
where soldiers of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
were fighting the Boer
Boer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
guerillas. After uncovering an enemy spy, Raffles is killed in battle and Bunny is badly wounded. He returns to England to write Raffles' memoirs.