<DIV><DIV>A delightful tale of thwarted ambition and forbidden love, <I>A Rogue's Life</I> follows the fortunes of an endearing young man. Proffering his own take on picaresque storytelling?and with many a grain of truth for twenty-somethings today?this is Wilkie Collins at his entertaining best. Propelled into society by his ever-hopeful father, Frank Softly is introduced to a variety of professions in order to make his fortune. Not industrious by nature, however, Frank finds working life a challenge, and by his 25th birthday, he has failed 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. The author of <I>The Woman in White </I>and <I>The Moonstone,</I> Wilkie Collins is widely regarded as the originator of the detective novel.</DIV></DIV>