A Rogue's Life

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.

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 --

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!

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.

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.