Customer Reviews

A Rogue's Life: Library Edition

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

A Rogue's Life

Frank has had many different positions, and has quite a sense of humor about him. He has gone to debtor's prison and survived it all. Upon soliciting people for a ball, he comes upon a young lady that he has seen previously and her father. The father is mysterious, no one knowing what is in the upper rooms of his other home. Frank, our rogue, decides to take up the father on a visit and becomes friendly with father and daughter. Frank decides to propose to the daughter, only she cries and doesn't accept, saying nothing instead. Frank decides to break into the upper rooms, to find out why. What happens from there, you will have to read the book and find out! You won't be sorry I promise. Lots of travel, hiding and a bit of love, sure to please every reader.

This book held me captive for today. I devoured it all and wished it didn't have to end. Mr. Collins writes with such ease that you can't help yourself. I look forward to reading The Woman in White --

I've been on a Wilkie Collins kick ever since reading The Moonstone a few years ago, and I've read several of his other works (No Name, Armadale, The Woman in White, The Dead Secret) since and enjoyed all of them immensely. What Collins is able to do in many of his novels is bring the reader into the action, engage them, and keep them guessing at the outcome. He uses plot twists, secrets, odd events, mystery, entertaining, fun characters and a good deal of wit to give a reader hours of entertainment. It is usually not a chore at all to read a Wilkie Collins book because it has such a freshness to it.

I preface this by stating these opinions mainly because A Rogue's Life was less enjoyable than the likes of No Name, The Woman in White, The Moonstone and others because it was lacking in several areas. It seemed to lack the intrigue factor characteristic of Collins' mysteries, as it was more of a comical perspective of one man's adventures. In addition, there is an indication that there will be a coming of age of sorts of Frank Softly, but his learning experience is minimal, only being based on what benefits him. He goes from job to job without much luck and is a jerk to his family, although there are some imaginatively funny episodes as he fails. I waited for a little bit of a turnabout from the main character, but Softly is never really learns much, even though he has a sharp tongue, great wit, and is entertaining. He discusses being schooled on the finer points of life by fellow prison inmate Gentleman Jones, but never really acts on this advice. Often a certain rooting point for a character exists when you read, but this wasn't so for the main character here. He remains a scoundrel throughout, despite a somewhat contrived turn of character. So, the book was more of a narrative on his adventures and nothing more, Softly mostly a flat character throughout. Also, the main conflict-- Frank's getting caught up in an illegal coining operation--seemed too conveniently dropped in so we could sympathize with him. Moreover, the ending was a little too pact and tidy to the narrator's advantage.

Still, A Rogue's Life has a certain measure of charm in many spots and is quite funny at times. Reading the exploits of a man who finds interesting ways to mess up things has an entertaining value mainly because Softly doesn't seem to give a hoot with his roguish attitude. Also, as usual, Collins ends with a rash of clever plot events as a cat and mouse game ensues between Softly and those hunting him down.

In total, though, A Rogue's Life is an average reading experience that didn't make me want to relish or remember the novel. I would still recommend A Rogue's Life simply because it is Wilkie Collins, and his writing is superb, even if this one was substandard. (And, it appears that most would read and like this novel based on the other reviews; I guess it just didn't work for me).

However, if you want to truly experience a great Collins novel, I recommend any of the big four (No Name, Armadale, The Woman in White, The Moonstone) over A Rogue's Life.

3 ½ stars

Wilkie Collins is one of the great underappreciated writers. His books have an immediacy and subtlety that seems fresh even today, even though his plots sometimes creak -- for example, see his novel "Armadale." As with Trollope, he had a very keen insight into human motivation and emotion, and is adept at descriptive writing. This little novel doesn't rise to that level, but is great fun, nonetheless. Frank Softly is somewhat of a nineteenth century Harry Flashman -- unapologetic regarding his knavery, but with his own code of honor and a fine sense of the ridiculous. Highly recommended.

Since it was written in 1856 it's far ahead of it's time. It's a simple, humurous, tale of the misadventures of one man. He carries on like he could be a distant relative of Don Quixote. It keeps you entertained and if nothing else, when all is said and done, will bring a smile to your face.

This is a review of the free Kindle version.

A Rogue's Life comes in at just under 1,800 locations.

It's interesting reading Wilkie Collins's views on the work 20 years after writing it. His melancholy thoughts of his dead friends definitely grabs you.

The rogue is an interesting sort, making his living with as little work as is possible. It's not too shocking that he ends up in some criminal activities. This definitely falls in the classic sensation category.

The ending is pretty remarkable - I definitely chuckled about how and who the rogue ends up working for.

The story is marred by some casual anti-Semitism, not that unusual for the time.

This is the third book I have read by this author and have enjoyed all of them.
Wilkie Collins brings the reader back in time to walk among his characters, both
lovely and loathsome.

A Rogue's Life, written more than a hundred years ago, has a main character that lies, cheats, and steals
with style and charm. You can't help but root for the bad guy while laughing at his endless chain of misdeeds.

If you want a fun read while getting lost in historic details and language, you might like this book as much as I did.

I have the moonstone and like it but also found it a little tedious. This novel however moves right along is suspenseful and as the author himself notes it has the benefit of being short. It is a very fun read.