A Rogue’s Life by Wilkie Collins - Delphi Classics (Illustrated) (Delphi Parts Edition

by Wilkie Collins, Delphi Classics (Editor)

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Genres: Classics, Fiction, Audiobook, Victorian, Humor, 19th Century, Historical Fiction

114 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1856

About the author

Wilkie Collins was an English novelist and playwright, best known for The Woman in White (1860), an early sensation novel, and The Moonstone (1868), a pioneering work of detective fiction. Born to landscape painter William Collins and Harriet Geddes, he spent part of his childhood in Italy and France, learning both languages. Initially working as a tea merchant, he later studied law, though he never practiced. His literary career began with Antonina (1850), and a meeting with Charles Dickens in 1851 proved pivotal. The two became close friends and collaborators, with Collins contributing to Dickens' journals and co-writing dramatic works.
Collins' success peaked in the 1860s with novels that combined suspense with social critique, including No Name (1862), Armadale (1864), and The Moonstone, which established key elements of the modern detective story. His personal life was unconventional—he openly opposed marriage and lived with Caroline Graves and her daughter for much of his life, while also maintaining a separate relationship with Martha Rudd, with whom he had three children.
Plagued by gout, Collins became addicted to laudanum, which affected both his health and later works. Despite declining quality in his writing, he remained a respected figure, mentoring younger authors and advocating for writers' rights. He died in 1889 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery. His legacy endures through his influential novels, which laid the groundwork for both sensation fiction and detective literature.

Reviews

[Katie Lumsden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5. A fun read, but certainly not his best.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best things about working in a big public library is that you get the long view on things, and explore the vast backlist of great stories. This novella from 1856 is just the kind of lost treasure I love to stumble upon. It tells of the varied misadventures of one Frank Softly, the son of the good Doctor Softly and the black sheep of his family. From fame as a caricaturist to debtor’s prison to work as a forger, and on through a mounting series of glorious failures in various walks of life and amours, wandering into the shadow of a charming and villainous Doctor Dulcifer. But the real draw here behind the picaresque plot, as with its antecedent Moll Flanders, is the wry impudence of its indefatigable narrator, the perfect type of the loveable rogue. Frank is too self-possessed to be truly sardonic, but far too wily not to poke fun in prose that smiles and winks and cavorts across the page with irresistible verve. (It seems that Collins wrote the book while on holiday in Paris with his pal Charles Dickens, a thought that makes me spin with envy. Just imagine, hanging out with Dickens in Paris!) As for where Frank winds up, I’ll give you three guesses. Frank does not go softly, and the story resists any moralistic come-uppance. A sheer delight, and a great starter for folks just starting out w/ the Victorians.

[Malum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This quick and easy read has a bit of everything: humor, romance, and even a bit of suspense.

[Elena Druță · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tare simpatic este protagonistul - pe de o parte, sinceritatea de care dă dovadă când își povestește peripețiile - deseori aflate la limita decenței și a legii - e dezarmantă, iar pe de altă parte, modul în care reușește să iasă din tot felul de situații neplăcute e plin de vervă și originalitate.
Tare vă recomand cartea asta dacă vreți să citiți ceva ușor, amuzant; protagonistul-narator e pur și simplu formidabil.

[Cookie M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moderately amusing. So far, it appears Wilkie Collins had two very good books in him, and a lot of other books that are just books. This is one of the latter. It probably could have been good, but it just wandered around and then stopped.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining relationship listening 🎶🔰

This is a free kindle e-book novella from Amazon by Wilkie Collins.

I listened 🎶 to this as part of The Victorian Rouge Megapack. It is about the personal live of Wilkie Collins and quite interesting 👀.

I would recommend this novella and author to 👍 readers of British 🏰👑 family relationships novels 👍🔰. 2023 😀👒☺😮👑🏡

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful tale narrated by a rogue who is unrepentant for all his misdeeds, very much like Jonathan Wild in Henry Fielding's tale named after him. Wilkie Collins in A Rogue's Life: From His Birth To His Marriage takes us from Frank Softly's birth to his capture and sentencing for participating in a counterfeiting ring to fourteen years in Australia.

There is a crispness to Collins's style as Softly narrates how he fell in love with the daughter of the chief counterfeiter and ceased to care about anything short of eloping with her to Scotland and marrying her according to the then laws of Scotland without benefit of a minister or judge.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magnífico libro. Wilkie Collins era un bribón. Amigo de parranda de otro gran bribón, Charles Dickens. Estas confesiones son geniales porque están escritas con un pulso anímico lleno de energía, elegancia y astucia. El estilo en este libro deriva del contenido. Es puro carisma. Los episodios que narra son insólitos, excesivos, geniales. Sólo en la era victoriana era posible un libro tan divertido. Para tomarle el pelo a la mojigatería se necesita primero que haya mojigatería. Es cierto que no corre tanta adrenalina en Collins como en la literatura posterior que se escribió para espantar al burgués del siglo XX. Sin embargo, en estas confesiones corre mucho humor, mucha inteligencia. Pienso que se trata de un libro sano escrito en una sociedad enferma, pero no para quejarse sino para divertirse, para seguir de parranda. Leerlo es una fiesta.

[Avel Rudenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming and very readable novel written in the mid 19th century by a contemporary of Charles Darwin. Written around the time of Voltaire's Candide and Flaubert's A Sentimental Education, this novel also mixes the adventure and unexpected turns of a picaresque work with the protagonist being from a mildly upper class lineage. Like those others, A Rogue's Life trades on the main character's one foot in the noble's world and one foot in the workingman/adventurer's world to shed light on the inconsistencies and moral hazards that appear when those two spheres meet. A Rogue's Life also includes a 'lifelong' love story as well, although this one, fortunately, rewards the reader heaps more than the other works mentioned.

In the book, Frank Softly is a grandson of a somewhat well-known British lady who is the recipient of a less well-known slow denuding of her funds. As such, her grandson must keep up appearances while barely able to pay for boarding school, and is thus left without a proper career with no college and no entry fees to other clerical or ministerial work. Thus begins his life as a rogue, for in his pursuit of staying fed and sheltered he ends up bouncing through a number of jobs and positions; which course becomes soon enough not driven as much by food or shelter as by getting close to the woman he has fallen for. The story follows on to a series of jail terms, counterfeiters, 'Bow Street Runners' (police detectives), and greedy relatives. At the end of the book it seems clear why the author could achieve such success as a mystery writer as the plot is well-turned, with exotic and believable characters, and an appeal to sensibility and some insight on personalities. A fast read and neat picture into Victorian life without the stuffiness thereof.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my very favorite work by Wilkie Collins, but overall enjoyable, and surprisingly funny at times.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting much, but I loved this. Whimsical, not exactly overflowing with morals, weird and charming. Loved it

[Desirae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun, I think I was smiling throughout the entire story. The scrapes of our protagonist are really artfully done. Great introduction to Wilkie Collins, I'm really thankful that ebooks provides these lesser known short works of classic authors for free. Recommend this one for something light and charming.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected although the title pretty much tells it all. A young man who basically lives recklessly, seeking satisfaction in both legal and illegal ways, finds a goal worth pursuing. Sad, really, as a sort of glimpse of Vanity Fair” living.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gently humorous and clean romance story with a fun ending. Well narrated by Bernard Mayes. Re-reading as I’m disappointed in modern fare. I’ll get over it! But thank God for the classics. 👌

[Koeeoaddi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved you, Rogue (and Mrs Bag)
but not as much as Captain Wragge

[~ Cheryl ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It is a bold thing to say, but nothing will ever persuade me that Society has not a sneaking kindness for a Rogue."

I really, really enjoyed this.

The first quarter of this book was surprisingly funny. Like, I didn’t know Collins had it in him. Beyond that point, it transitions into his more typical storytelling style, with a dash of the intrigue and suspense that he’s known for. The novella’s greatest strength is that Collins writes it in first-person POV, in the voice of a loveable scalawag, who begins his life in a rather aimless fashion.

"I found myself in a very absurd position of having no money to pay them, and told them all so with the frankness which is one of the best sides of my character. They received my advances toward a better understanding with a brutal incivility, and treated me soon afterward with a want of confidence which I may forgive, but can never forget."

Never fear. His elevated sense of self-importance aids him in overcoming all adversity.

"Weak and well-meaning people would have desponded under these circumstances; but your genuine Rogue is a man of elastic temperament, not easily compressible under any pressure of disaster."

I absolutely loved this character’s voice. Meanwhile, subsequent events spur him on to more purpose, and the story is tied up nicely at the end.

Wilkie Collins is a skilled storyteller, and this small volume is every bit as engaging as most of his stuff is, and funny to boot. Glad I stumbled on this little-known gem.

[Lobstergirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slight and comical picaresque. The young rogue, Frank Softly, comes from vaguely aristocratic stock but also has relatives in the trades and a physician father. He has an exceedingly difficult time earning a living. After a stint in debtors prison, he sells caricatures and paints fake Old Masters before a buyer of one of his Rembrandts threatens a lawsuit. He falls in love with a mysterious woman and is roped into working for her father's criminal enterprise, currency counterfeiting. That story line, comprising the second half of the novella, feels stale and stupid, but Collins creates a fabulous character in Softly's grandmother, Lady Malkinshaw, whose impaired senses are constantly sending her tumbling down stairs or crashing through plate glass windows, cheating death only due to serendipitously placed baskets of laundry and the turban she wears when fully dressed. After each of these incidents she emerges robuster and healthier than ever. Collins should have written a whole novel centered on this absurd woman.

If you were studying anti-Semitism in 19th century literature you might want to include this novella. The trader in fake Old Masters for whom Softly goes to work is Mr Ishmael Pickup - "there is not the least need to describe him - he was a Jew." In "the Jew's workshop", Pickup tells Softly, "no pay, my dear, unlesh your Rembrandt ish good enough to take me in - even me, Ishmael, who dealsh in pictersh and knowsh what'sh what."

[Zai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilkie Collins es merecidamente conocido por sus novelas de misterio de estilo detectivesco. Pero esta novela es una sátira, en ella emplea la ironía con gran maestría para burlarse de la sociedad británica de la época.

Francis desprecia la moralidad de sus parientes, así que desde su juventud se empeñará en seguir la dirección opuesta a la que su progenitor le señala. La novela podría decirse que se divide en 2 partes.

En la primera, narra las mil peripecias de un granuja que se niega a seguir el sendero que le correspondería. Francis es un bribón, pero sobre todo es un rebelde. Su talante crítico le impide acatar los usos sociales que le parecen ridículos, lo cual le convierte en un proscrito.

Hacia la mitad de la novela, nos adentramos en la segunda parte donde el joven Francis se enamorará de una misteriosa mujer que, aun sin ella saberlo, esconde un secreto y se centra más en resolver el misterio que atañe a la señorita Alicia Dulcifer. Aunque todavía incluye alguna alusión a su familia.

Wilkie Collins despliega aquí su magnífica prosa y construye un novela corta, pero muy entretenida. Una magnífica crítica de la sociedad de la época muy directa y contundente.

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have loved pretty much every Wilkie Collins book I've read like The Moonstone, The Woman in White, and even No Name...until this one. I mean, it wasn't bad, but compared to his other books it really didn't hold my interest. That's what I loved so much about The Woman in White in particular. The Woman in White is a long book but it was a pageturner because I was so eager to see what would happen next. A Rogue's Life was much more leisurely and at times, dare I say it, boring.

There were definitely some amusing moments and there was one rather beautiful paragraph about the transiency of strong emotions that stood out in part because it was so much better than most of the rest of the book. Luckily there are plenty more Wilkie Collins book to read and I hear many of the others are much better than this.

If you are just starting out reading Wilkie Collins, do not start here, but with one of the books I mentioned in my first sentence, as they are infinitely more entertaining!

[Dasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Repito: meh.

Las dos últimas novelas que he leído de Wilkie Collins no me han gustado demasiado, la verdad. Estoy algo decepcionada. Ésta, a pesar de ser una novela corta, se me ha hecho eterna. Por mucho que lo intentara no conseguía meterme en la historia más allá de una ligera curiosidad, muy leve, que me ha llevado a terminarla para saber qué pasaba. No pasaba nada. En fin. Tendré que seguir intentándolo. O no. A lo mejor "La mujer de blanco" era la excepción a la regla y al final resulta que este escritor no es para mí.

Qué bajón.

[Sean O · Rating 3 out of 5]

A no good black sheep (who isn’t really bad, just work-avoidant) has a series of (mis)adventures. He learns some lessons and falls in love and pulls some scams. When he accidentally falls in with a real criminal crew he manages to avoid the noose, but gets “transported to the antipodes.” Fortunately, a spell in Australia turns him into a respectable fellow, and his story ends, because he isn’t a rogue anymore.

Fun writing. Very Entertaining. Will not change your life. You will want to read more Wilkie Collins.

[Dana Loo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un librino che tutto sommato risulta di gradevole lettura e abbastanza coinvolgente. Uno stand alone come genere nella vasta produzione di Collins, vicende rocambolesche dal sapore picaresco coinvolgono lo scapestrato protagonista farcite di una verve comica che, però, ad un lettore moderno potrebbe risultare un po' naive...

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Wilkie’s greatest work.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read about 5 Wilkie Collins novels, and this is definitely my least favourite. Perhaps if the narration had been of a higher standard I would have enjoyed it more ...

[Sonu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was 159 pages, quick read. I read the moonstone by same author and i love wilkie collins's funny, witty and mature writing style, feels like he is talking to readers. This book's title is exactly what this book is about and last sentence of this book concludes what i wanted to write in a review. Love this author and planning to read more books by him this year:)).

[Cosmic Arcata · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun and a great story!!!

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most enjoyable tale penned during the late 19th century by Wilkie Collins. Long before audiobooks!

Frank Softley is the rogue and narrator of the story of his adult life from minor gentry he received a good education and studied medicine, his father's profession, then everything takes a downturn as he tries his hand at various dubious occupations until his final demise and happier days in the antipodes.

A short tale but quite agreeable as it took me through a couple of afternoons when it rained outside. If you can like a rogue then Frank Softley could be the one.

4 stars

[AMS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the shenanigans the main character engaged in and the messes he found himself in to be quite humorous. It helped that this book was very cleverly written.

[Jay Rothermel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very brief novel, charming and humorous, about the mare's nest of Victorian bourgeois family relations, its mirroring in criminal enterprise, and True Love as salvation.

[Dougie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very light and fun book. The tone the tale is told in and the mad energy of the protagonist are very enjoyable to read. It’s perhaps a little superficial with nothing much to say beyond the surface level events but it’s quick, fun, and engaging and that’s all you really need.