If you already know Raffles, get ready for a new look at an old friend. If you're unfamiliar with Raffles, this site should serve as an introduction to one of the most famous characters of Victorian fiction, the original gentleman thief himself.

The full text of the original story is reproduced on this site, with annotations and photographs of the various locations as they appear today. "Le Premier Pas", was not the first Raffles story, but it is the story of Raffles' earliest criminal exploit. Written by E.W. Hornung in 1896, it was the 4th Raffles story, and the only one to be narrated by Raffles himself, rather than by his offsider, Bunny Manders.

The story has been split into eleven parts and annotated - where you see a green ball like this:    it means there's an annotation for that line - click on the ball to get to it. Enjoy your stay...