A Rogue's Life (Hesperus Classics) [Paperback]

Wilkie Collins (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1843911329 | ISBN-13: 978-1843911326 | Publication Date: April 1, 2006

A delightful tale of thwarted ambition and forbidden love, A Rogue’s Life follows the fortunes of an endearing young man. Proffering his own take on picaresque storytelling—and with many a grain of truth for twenty-somethings today—this is Wilkie Collins at his entertaining best. Propelled into society by his ever-hopeful father, Frank Softly is introduced to a variety of professions in order to make his fortune. Not industrious by nature, however, Frank finds working life a challenge, and by his 25th birthday, he has failed medicine, portrait-painting, caricaturing, and even forgery. Disenchanted with life, he despairs of ever finding something to commit to—until he meets Alicia Dulcifer and her inexplicably wealthy father. The author of The Woman in White and The Moonstone, Wilkie Collins is widely regarded as the originator of the detective novel.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A neglected gem: one of Collins's most enticing fictions, and one of Hesperus Press's happiest rediscoveries."  —Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

A popular and influential English novelist, dramatist, and short story writer, Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was the son of a famous landscape painter, William Collins. Renowned for his sensational mysteries and romances, he is hailed as the inventor of the detective novel. Collins was a lawyer by training. Among his most famous works are The Woman in White (1860), and The Moonstone (1867), and No Name (1862). --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Hesperus Press (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843911329
• ISBN-13: 978-1843911326
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,837,742 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful and Amusing!, August 4, 2007

By 

Erica "Porta-Potty Avoider" (St. Paul, Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Rogue's Life (Hesperus Classics) (Paperback)

Prior to reading this, A Rogue's Life, I had only read the most obvious and popular works by Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White and The Moonstone. Of course, I loved those books - so when I saw A Rogue's Life at my local bookstore, I picked it up. I was attracted by the description on the inside cover of the narrator, who has failed at a variety of pursuits and become 'disenchanted with life.' Perhaps I, at times, think of myself as a bit of a rogue, so upon reading the description I immediately purchased the book.

This book is delightful. Wilkie Collins is all about sensation and entertainment - and his is a great writer to boot! However, the book description got it wrong. The narrator is never 'disenchanted with life.' Despite his many setbacks, he always approaches life with optimism. In fact, in the foreword, Collins mentions the tone of 'boisterious gaiety' that pervades the work, attributing it to the grand life he was leading at the time in Paris. As a result, this short novel is filled with humor and adventure, and surfs along on a tide of good cheer. Add in the fact that it was serialized, and you get those wonderful cliffhanger chapter endings that just keep you reading!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wilkie Collins scores with Softly tale, July 5, 2004

By 

dikybabe "admeyer" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Rogue's Life (Paperback)

I just laughed and rejoiced in this short tale of intrigue of the protagonist Frank Softly. And what a rogue he is, indeed, and ever more likely to gain a place in a confidence game of the worst sort, confeiting, no less. What fun to venture across England and into Wales and Scotland with this upper middle class scoundrel and hear his adventures "in his own words". Sort of made me think of Henry Fielding's Tom Jones character, and some the the delicious characters of Dickens' own creations as well. I am currently immersed in catching up on my Wilkie Collins' reads and highly recommend that other readers do the same.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining story of personal transformation, March 5, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Rogue's Life (Hesperus Classics) (Paperback)

Frank Softly is introduced to a range of professions by a father hoping he'll make a fortune - but Frank finds work a challenge and by age 25 he has many failed careers to his name. He's lost and wandering - until he meets one Alicia and her rich father. An entertaining story of personal transformation emerges in a pick especially recommended for college-level literary holdings already containing his better-known novels, who want to add depth to their treatment of Wilkie Collins.