Smollett's third novel already has a leg up on his first. He doesn't pretend to hold up Ferdinand as a reputable protagonist; rather, he embraces the anti-hero mantle for his wily rake, and in the process he succeeds in crafting an interesting story, with a little bit more substance than Roderick Random.Ferdinand is the child of an unknown German soldier and an English prostitute whose hobbies also include robbing battlefield corpses. He manages to insinuate himself into the good graces of a nobleman, who raises the orphan as his own child. A bright lad, but a manipulative soul, he soon dives into plots, intrigues, cons, and deceptions, trying to make a quick buck and steal meaningless pleasure. We follow his career of crime through Germany, Austria, France, and England, as he systematically bites every hand that ever fed him and even betrays his best friend. The vicissitudes of his fortune lead him into brutal poverty and final repentance, and shockingly, it's a quite believable repentance. I didn't think Smollett had it in him.
The subplot involving Ferdinand's duped friend and the beautiful Monimia is decent too, including an almost Gothic graveyard scene and an over-the-top plot twist. But Ferdinand's schemes are the most interesting part of the book. Whether he is card-sharping, playing doctor, prosecuting romances (there really is no other verb to apply here), or dodging creditors, Ferdinand's antics are usually worth reading, and they provide a strong picture of the effects of vice and deception. Maybe I won't completely write off Smollett just yet.
Arbitrary rating: 3.5 out of 5 careers of crime
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