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A Rogue's Life
A Rogue's Life
From his Birth to his Marriage
The critical reader may possibly notice a tone of almost boisterous gayety in certain parts of these imaginary Confessions. I can only plead, in defense, that the story offers the faithful reflection of a very happy time in my past life. It was written at Paris, when I had Charles Dickens for a near neighbor and a daily companion, and when my leisure hours were joyously passed with many other friends, all associated with literature and art, of whom the admirable comedian, Regnier, is now the only survivor. The revising of these pages has been to me a melancholy task. I can only hope that they may cheer the sad moments of others. The Rogue may surely claim two merits, at least, in the eyes of the new generation--he is never serious for two moments together; and he "doesn't take long to read." W. C.
Book Excerpt
and had four pitched battles with them: three thrashed me, and one I thrashed. I learned to play at cricket, to hate rich people, to cure warts, to write Latin verses, to swim, to recite speeches, to cook kidneys on toast, to draw caricatures of the masters, to construe Greek plays, to black boots, and to receive kicks and serious advice resignedly. Who will say that the fashionable public school was of no use to me after that?
After I left school, I had the narrowest escape possible of intruding myself into another place of accommodation for distinguished people; in other words, I was very nearly being sent to college. Fortunately for me, my father lost a lawsuit just in the nick of time, and was obliged to scrape together every farthing of available money that he possessed to pay for the luxury of going to law. If he could have saved his seven shillings, he would certainly have sent me to scramble for a place in the pit of the great university theater; but his purse was empty, and his son was not el
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I love dis book it is so great
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A young man of respectable family finds it difficult to settle down to the dull life his relatives expect of him, and they cast him off. Then he falls in love at first sight with a mysterious young woman and gets into further trouble. Pleasant but unexciting reading.
03/29/2010
I just downloaded this out of the blue, for no particular reason, with little knowledge of the author and no knowledge of the story.
Blind luck - found it to be a humorous and a worthwhile read
Blind luck - found it to be a humorous and a worthwhile read
12/24/2008
A humorous book by Wilkie Collins? Surely not! The story was written in a very happy time in the author's life and in his own words was written in "a tone of almost boisterous gayety ..."
I was surprised at the wit and humor displayed by the author. I expected a "Tom Jones" rollicking romp of a story but this was not to be. The book progressed from an humorous story to a love story (the beautiful Alicia) to a mystery (what is Dr Dulcifer up to?) and finally to an adventure (the escape).
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is well-paced, has an unusual plot and a satisfying ending. What more can one ask for?
I was surprised at the wit and humor displayed by the author. I expected a "Tom Jones" rollicking romp of a story but this was not to be. The book progressed from an humorous story to a love story (the beautiful Alicia) to a mystery (what is Dr Dulcifer up to?) and finally to an adventure (the escape).
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is well-paced, has an unusual plot and a satisfying ending. What more can one ask for?
06/04/2007