This delightful tale of thwarted ambition and forbidden love follows the adventures and fortunes of an endearing young rogue, Frank Softly. Originally appearing serialized in Household Words in 1859, the rogue is one of Collins’ most richly comic creations.
Propelled into society by his ever-hopeful father, Frank is introduced to a variety of professions in order to make his fortune. Not industrious by nature, Frank finds working life a challenge, and by his twenty-fifth birthday, he has failed in 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.
Proffering his own take on picaresque storytelling—and with many a grain of truth for twentysomethings today—this is Wilkie Collins at his entertaining best.
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"Wilkie Collins' Rogue, Frank Softly, is an interesting, fun and quite likeable character. I so enjoy Wilkie Collins' style. He gives some of his characters unusual, comical names. His plots have intricate twists and remind me more of modern-day writers. It is difficult to put his books down." — Jane (5 out of 5 stars)
"Wilkie Collins' Rogue, Frank Softly, is an interesting, fun and quite likeable character. I so enjoy Wilkie Collins' style. He gives some of his characters unusual, comical names. His plots have intricate twists and remind me more of modern-day writers. It is difficult to put his books down."
“A neglected gem.”
" Kind of boring so far. "
" I got interested in Wilkie Collins after reading Drood, by Dan Simmons. Collins is the narrator of that book, which is about Dickens's last few years of life. "
" This novella lacks the charm of Collins' other books, but it's still a fun and unique read. "
" I love Wilkie Collins, I actually like his writing more than Dickens, this was the third book I read of Wilkies and it wasn't fantastic but it was good he always makes me laugh, and this in particular is entertaining. "
" It was a quick, humorous read. Would be a perfect book to read at the airport while waiting for a connecting flight. Wilke Collins has such a wit and his turn of words are delightful "
" Not one of Collins's best, but an entertaining, quick read. "
" What a delightful little story! Mr. Frank Softly has so much personality, it's hard to believe that he didn't write these memoirs himself. I look forward to meeting Wilkie one day and thanking him for so much quality entertainment. "
" Not one of Wilkie Collins' best. "
" Not Wilkie's best, but a cute, short read. Doesn't have the intrigue that many Collins books do; more of a cheerful, comic romp, which I appreciated. "
" Good craic. Quick, simple, silly fun. It was delightful to see a different side to Collins than the Woman in White writer. "
" Not as good as The Woman in White, but also a good book. It has humor and is a quick read. I think that it could have been better with more character development, but it's not bad. I just never really got to like any of the characters or to sympathize with them. "
" Really bright and cheery. Quite different from other Wilkie Collins books I have read. Very enjoyable. "
Wilkie Collins (1824–1889) was an English novelist. He studied law and was admitted to the bar but never practiced. Instead, he devoted his time to writing and is best known for his novels The Woman in White, No Name, Armadale, and The Moonstone, which has been called the finest detective story ever written. A number of his works were collaborations with his close friend, Charles Dickens. The Woman in White so gripped the imagination of the world that Wilkie Collins had his own tombstone inscribed: “Author of The Woman in White.”
Bernard Mayes is a teacher, administrator, corporate executive, broadcaster, actor, dramatist, and former international commentator on US culture. He is best known for his readings of historical classics.
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