Wilkie Collins Book Store
A Rogue's Life (Webster's English Thesaurus Edition)
RRP: $19.95
Our Price: $19.95
You Save: $ ( % )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: ICON Group International, Inc.
Author: Wilkie Collins
Publisher: ICON Group International, Inc.
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $19.95
You Save: $ ( % )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: ICON Group International, Inc.
Author: Wilkie Collins
Publisher: ICON Group International, Inc.
Average Customer Rating:
Experimental feature: Order A Rogue's Life (Webster's English Thesaurus Edition) from the UK, Canada, Germany or France by clicking an appropriate flag below.
Some items available at Amazon.com are not available in all countries.
Some items available at Amazon.com are not available in all countries.
A Rogue's Life (Webster's English Thesaurus Edition) Description
Binding: Paperback
Label: ICON Group International, Inc.
Manufacturer: ICON Group International, Inc.
Book Pages: 176
Publication Date: 2008-05-29
Publisher: ICON Group International, Inc.
Product Release Date: 2008-05-29
Studio: ICON Group International, Inc.
Label: ICON Group International, Inc.
Manufacturer: ICON Group International, Inc.
Book Pages: 176
Publication Date: 2008-05-29
Publisher: ICON Group International, Inc.
Product Release Date: 2008-05-29
Studio: ICON Group International, Inc.
Editorial Review of A Rogue's Life (Webster's English Thesaurus Edition)
Designed for school districts, educators, and students seeking to maximize performance on standardized tests, Webster's paperbacks take advantage of the fact that classics are frequently assigned readings in English courses. By using a running thesaurus at the bottom of each page, this edition of A Rogue's Life by Wilkie Collins was edited for students who are actively building their vocabularies in anticipation of taking PSAT¿, SAT¿, AP¿ (Advanced Placement¿), GRE¿, LSAT¿, GMAT¿ or similar examinations.
PSAT¿ is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation neither of which sponsors or endorses this book; SAT¿ is a registered trademark of the College Board which neither sponsors nor endorses this book; GRE¿, AP¿ and Advanced Placement¿ are registered trademarks of the Educational Testing Service which neither sponsors nor endorses this book, GMAT¿ is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admissions Council which is neither affiliated with this book nor endorses this book, LSAT¿ is a registered trademark of the Law School Admissions Council which neither sponsors nor endorses this product. All rights reserved.
PSAT¿ is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation neither of which sponsors or endorses this book; SAT¿ is a registered trademark of the College Board which neither sponsors nor endorses this book; GRE¿, AP¿ and Advanced Placement¿ are registered trademarks of the Educational Testing Service which neither sponsors nor endorses this book, GMAT¿ is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admissions Council which is neither affiliated with this book nor endorses this book, LSAT¿ is a registered trademark of the Law School Admissions Council which neither sponsors nor endorses this product. All rights reserved.
Customer Reviews of A Rogue's Life (Webster's English Thesaurus Edition)
Customer Rating: 
Review Summary: Cool Victorian Adventure Novel
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A Rogue's Life Indeed!
Review: 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 --
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Delightful and Amusing!
Review: 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!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Ahead of it's time.
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: An entertaining story of personal transformation
Review: 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.
Review Summary: Cool Victorian Adventure Novel
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A Rogue's Life Indeed!
Review: 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 --
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Delightful and Amusing!
Review: 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!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Ahead of it's time.
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: An entertaining story of personal transformation
Review: 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.