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Shifting for Himself, Or, Gilbert Greyson's Fortunes
Informed by his guardian that he is no longer rich and must leave school to work for a living, newly-poor, sixteen-year-old Gilbert Greyson soon learns the value of good character, honesty, and friendship as he struggles to make a new life for himself in 1870's New York City.
- GenresFiction
Paperback
First published January 1, 1876
About the author
Horatio Alger Jr.
454 books96 followersHoratio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19th-century American author, most famous for his novels following the adventures of bootblacks, newsboys, peddlers, buskers, and other impoverished children in their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of respectable middle-class security and comfort. His novels about boys who succeed under the tutelage of older mentors were hugely popular in their day.
Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister, Alger entered Harvard University at the age of sixteen. Following graduation, he briefly worked in education before touring Europe for almost a year. He then entered the Harvard Divinity School, and, in 1864, took a position at a Unitarian church in Brewster, Massachusetts. Two years later, he resigned following allegations he had sexual relations with two teenage boys.[1] He retired from the ministry and moved to New York City where he formed an association with the Newsboys Lodging House and other agencies offering aid to impoverished children. His sympathy for the working boys of the city, coupled with the moral values learned at home, were the basis of his many juvenile rags to riches novels illustrating how down-and-out boys might be able to achieve the American Dream of wealth and success through hard work, courage, determination, and concern for others. This widely held view involves Alger's characters achieving extreme wealth and the subsequent remediation of their "old ghosts." Alger is noted as a significant figure in the history of American cultural and social ideals. He died in 1899.
The first full-length Alger biography was commissioned in 1927 and published in 1928, and along with many others that borrowed from it later proved to be heavily fictionalized parodies perpetuating hoaxes and made up anecdotes that "would resemble the tell-all scandal biographies of the time."[2] Other biographies followed, sometimes citing the 1928 hoax as fact. In the last decades of the twentieth century a few more reliable biographies were published that attempt to correct the errors and fictionalizations of the past.
Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister, Alger entered Harvard University at the age of sixteen. Following graduation, he briefly worked in education before touring Europe for almost a year. He then entered the Harvard Divinity School, and, in 1864, took a position at a Unitarian church in Brewster, Massachusetts. Two years later, he resigned following allegations he had sexual relations with two teenage boys.[1] He retired from the ministry and moved to New York City where he formed an association with the Newsboys Lodging House and other agencies offering aid to impoverished children. His sympathy for the working boys of the city, coupled with the moral values learned at home, were the basis of his many juvenile rags to riches novels illustrating how down-and-out boys might be able to achieve the American Dream of wealth and success through hard work, courage, determination, and concern for others. This widely held view involves Alger's characters achieving extreme wealth and the subsequent remediation of their "old ghosts." Alger is noted as a significant figure in the history of American cultural and social ideals. He died in 1899.
The first full-length Alger biography was commissioned in 1927 and published in 1928, and along with many others that borrowed from it later proved to be heavily fictionalized parodies perpetuating hoaxes and made up anecdotes that "would resemble the tell-all scandal biographies of the time."[2] Other biographies followed, sometimes citing the 1928 hoax as fact. In the last decades of the twentieth century a few more reliable biographies were published that attempt to correct the errors and fictionalizations of the past.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 17, 2018
I believe someone once said that H. Alger published the same book multiple times and each one was still well received. This one followed well in that tradition. Despite the unvarying characters simple plots and straight out preachyness I still have a deep respect and love for his writing. Perhaps because I can sympathize with his people who are rather like myself as a younger chap. Freakishly pious and obstinately moralizing, me to the core.
December 15, 2022
At the end of chapter sixteen, Gilbert watches as Tom the bootblack tars John’s face. By chapter eighteen, this incidence has been forgotten, and Gilbert has to grill Tom on the fact and method of his revenge.
Sloppiness is perhaps par for the course for Alger, but it’s unusual for a continuity error to appear two short chapters apart. This book suffers as well from an excessive straining of another Alger staple—characters may engage in the dialogue:
“I think you’re prejudiced against this young hero.”
“Yes. I am prejudiced against this young hero.”
in nearly every book, but, oh man, is that note really sounded again and again here.
This book is particularly “light” for an Alger, in the sense that the hero faces very little deprivation or peril. He goes from wealthy to lower-middle class with a boarding house and a white-collar starter job, with few pages spent fretting he might sink lower. He spends literally two days doing the work of a poor boy before he starts rocketing up towards riches again. Even the main villain is pretty friendly and helpful. It’s just not that hard!
But Alger has his skills—otherwise we wouldn’t be reading him a century and a half later! There is something very satisfying about this book, and if it is a childish satisfaction…well, it is a children’s book! The petty grievances lines up against Gilbert Grayson are harped upon so mercilessly, and thwarted so effortlessly—as with many Alger novels, it is practically a dream narrative.
A mid-tier Alger, bit that puts it well above (“above” with at the usual caveats) the best of most authors.
Sloppiness is perhaps par for the course for Alger, but it’s unusual for a continuity error to appear two short chapters apart. This book suffers as well from an excessive straining of another Alger staple—characters may engage in the dialogue:
“I think you’re prejudiced against this young hero.”
“Yes. I am prejudiced against this young hero.”
in nearly every book, but, oh man, is that note really sounded again and again here.
This book is particularly “light” for an Alger, in the sense that the hero faces very little deprivation or peril. He goes from wealthy to lower-middle class with a boarding house and a white-collar starter job, with few pages spent fretting he might sink lower. He spends literally two days doing the work of a poor boy before he starts rocketing up towards riches again. Even the main villain is pretty friendly and helpful. It’s just not that hard!
But Alger has his skills—otherwise we wouldn’t be reading him a century and a half later! There is something very satisfying about this book, and if it is a childish satisfaction…well, it is a children’s book! The petty grievances lines up against Gilbert Grayson are harped upon so mercilessly, and thwarted so effortlessly—as with many Alger novels, it is practically a dream narrative.
A mid-tier Alger, bit that puts it well above (“above” with at the usual caveats) the best of most authors.
April 16, 2023
This book is just wonderful. Gilbert is a character full of virtue, and endearing and generous. I rooted for him all the way and I'm so glad that the story ended how it did. It was a great read and I'll recommend it if you're looking for a new book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews