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Ragged Dick #1
Ragged Dick
Excerpt from Ragged Dick: Or, Street Life in New York With the Boot-Blacks
Several characters in the story are sketched from life. The necessary information has been gathered mainly from personal Observation and conversations with the boys themselves. The author is indebted also to the excellent Superintendent of the Newsboys' Lodging House, in Fulton Street, for some facts Of which he has been able to make use. Some anachronisms may be noted. Wherever they occur, they have been admitted.
Several characters in the story are sketched from life. The necessary information has been gathered mainly from personal Observation and conversations with the boys themselves. The author is indebted also to the excellent Superintendent of the Newsboys' Lodging House, in Fulton Street, for some facts Of which he has been able to make use. Some anachronisms may be noted. Wherever they occur, they have been admitted.
120 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1868
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1481 people want to read
About the author
Horatio Alger Jr.
474 books97 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 - 30 of 382 reviews
October 22, 2015
Horatio Alger was the inventor, or at least the popularizer, of the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" ethos in America. I heard his name many times growing up, but no one reads his books anymore. This is partly because they're not very good: "There is no doubt that what he wrote was bilge, but it was inspired," says one critic* who's being as nice as he can.
Another reason is that his books are wicked ephebophilic. They all feature a poor but good-hearted teenage boy who betters his lot under the wing of an older man, and it's hard to ignore the homoerotic undertones. Alger himself left a church post over "the abominable and revolting crime of unnatural familiarity with boys" - he was 34 at the time, the boys 13 and 15, which puts him squarely in creep territory. He never had a public relationship with any adult. There is some controversy over whether he had further relationships with teenaged boys.
Ragged Dick, by consensus his best book, is slim, likable, quietly gay, ploddingly written, and basically forgettable. It has some vivid, specific descriptions of New York City in the late 19th century, particularly the Five Points area later immortalized in Gangs of New York. It owes an obvious debt to Charles Dickens. It's not a chore to read, but it's unlikely to leave you advocating for Alger's rescue from the dustbin of literary history.
* Richard Fynke in the intro to a 1962 Collier edition, if you must know.
Note: do not confuse this with Ragged Dick, which seems to be...well, probably just a more exciting version of the same story.
Another reason is that his books are wicked ephebophilic. They all feature a poor but good-hearted teenage boy who betters his lot under the wing of an older man, and it's hard to ignore the homoerotic undertones. Alger himself left a church post over "the abominable and revolting crime of unnatural familiarity with boys" - he was 34 at the time, the boys 13 and 15, which puts him squarely in creep territory. He never had a public relationship with any adult. There is some controversy over whether he had further relationships with teenaged boys.
Ragged Dick, by consensus his best book, is slim, likable, quietly gay, ploddingly written, and basically forgettable. It has some vivid, specific descriptions of New York City in the late 19th century, particularly the Five Points area later immortalized in Gangs of New York. It owes an obvious debt to Charles Dickens. It's not a chore to read, but it's unlikely to leave you advocating for Alger's rescue from the dustbin of literary history.
* Richard Fynke in the intro to a 1962 Collier edition, if you must know.
Note: do not confuse this with Ragged Dick, which seems to be...well, probably just a more exciting version of the same story.
December 20, 2015
This is a story of a 14-year-old boot-black finding a way to rise to a better life (though still way below what his end goal must be, but it's not part of this book - the next book "Fame And Fortune" has that, though reading it at Project Gutenberg is to me preferable to owning it). It's set around the time when Central Park is still not quite finished, which points us to the time point of circa 1873ish. The book's covers the time of about a year.
Ragged Dick manages to progress partly because of his great confidence, determination, great sense of humor and general friendly nature. That's true, but without meeting the right people, right circumstances and good luck, he wouldn't quite have had so much luck as the book describes.
I didn't not feel that this was heavy-handed or preachy or patronising or anything, perhaps because this is one of the first of Alger's books, so it's not particularly heavy, and doesn't have the possible cringeworthy passages the later books might've had. I do take it with a grain of salt and read it partly as of its time - today's society is different, there are dangers that didn't really exist those days, and 'going up' in society isn't anywhere near as easy, and I don't think Ragged Dick's attitude would've been enough. And the prices are not the same. Central Park is now ready though.
So if one takes in account that this isn't 100% realism, things are different now, and not take the story too seriously, it can be the one Horatio Alger book you can read, and ignore the rest.
Ragged Dick manages to progress partly because of his great confidence, determination, great sense of humor and general friendly nature. That's true, but without meeting the right people, right circumstances and good luck, he wouldn't quite have had so much luck as the book describes.
I didn't not feel that this was heavy-handed or preachy or patronising or anything, perhaps because this is one of the first of Alger's books, so it's not particularly heavy, and doesn't have the possible cringeworthy passages the later books might've had. I do take it with a grain of salt and read it partly as of its time - today's society is different, there are dangers that didn't really exist those days, and 'going up' in society isn't anywhere near as easy, and I don't think Ragged Dick's attitude would've been enough. And the prices are not the same. Central Park is now ready though.
So if one takes in account that this isn't 100% realism, things are different now, and not take the story too seriously, it can be the one Horatio Alger book you can read, and ignore the rest.
March 1, 2024
2021-12-19 I listened to this (Librivoxorg) audio book in June and really enjoyed it. Great to finally get to it after hearing about it many times in school, college and other places, over many, many years (>50).
I love the morals of Ragged Dick, the main character - No stealing, good humor, perseverance and to always treat others reasonably. The story wove in lots of good humor - He was quite a wit.
The history/sociology of the book, set in New York City in the mid-1800s, is fascinating - and how the boys/orphans in the book survived in NY City on their own. HUGE difference with today's situation... and perhaps showing some advantages of the structure and possibilities of the 150+ years ago situation vs. today, at least in some respects.
Good morals, hard work, persistence, positive outlook, creativity, courage and good humor, combined with some good luck can do amazing things. These qualities are too often scoffed at these days, and for quite some time.
This book and others with similar themes and stories by Horatio Alger are far too often put down as unrealistic. But I beg to differ and believe they are far better aids to human thriving than coercive government welfare, and the mentality that feeds it, which has had so many deleterious effects. The increase in wealth of society overall, since the time of the book, should make the lessons in this book even MORE important, and easier to understand how they work in real life, rather than less.
I highly recommend this book and especially this Librivox org recording that I listened to, not just once, but 3-4x, it was so good.
----
I liked this so much that I recommended it for a book group I am in and everyone in it loved it too. Upon rereading, I started reading the sequels and hence bought an e-book edition with 9 additional stories about Ragged Dick and other Horatio Alger characters. See my GR review of that for more on each of those stories. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I love the morals of Ragged Dick, the main character - No stealing, good humor, perseverance and to always treat others reasonably. The story wove in lots of good humor - He was quite a wit.
The history/sociology of the book, set in New York City in the mid-1800s, is fascinating - and how the boys/orphans in the book survived in NY City on their own. HUGE difference with today's situation... and perhaps showing some advantages of the structure and possibilities of the 150+ years ago situation vs. today, at least in some respects.
Good morals, hard work, persistence, positive outlook, creativity, courage and good humor, combined with some good luck can do amazing things. These qualities are too often scoffed at these days, and for quite some time.
This book and others with similar themes and stories by Horatio Alger are far too often put down as unrealistic. But I beg to differ and believe they are far better aids to human thriving than coercive government welfare, and the mentality that feeds it, which has had so many deleterious effects. The increase in wealth of society overall, since the time of the book, should make the lessons in this book even MORE important, and easier to understand how they work in real life, rather than less.
I highly recommend this book and especially this Librivox org recording that I listened to, not just once, but 3-4x, it was so good.
----
I liked this so much that I recommended it for a book group I am in and everyone in it loved it too. Upon rereading, I started reading the sequels and hence bought an e-book edition with 9 additional stories about Ragged Dick and other Horatio Alger characters. See my GR review of that for more on each of those stories. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
March 19, 2017
I actually read this when I was in elementary school, and I love it even now! It's funny, engaging, and inspiring, as it follows the story of Dick Hunter from his position as a lowly bootblack to an honorable member of society. One of my favorite childhood stories :)
July 5, 2019
Horatio Alger, Jr.'s style is rather like G. A. Henty's in that, once you’ve read three or four of his novels, you’ve practically read all of them because he repeats the same plots over and over. But those first four stories are enjoyable enough. =)
The Story.
Ragged Dick’s life as a bootblack is straightforward. He scrambles himself up real early each mornin’ – ‘cause that’s when the best customers is up and movin’ – and racks up some business. Then, for the rest of the day, he spends his money buying grub, patronizing the Old Bowery theatre, and generally livin’ life. He's happiest when he hasn’t got a penny left at the end of the day.
Then one day, while out attending his customers, he rambles across Mr. Whitney and his grandson Frank. Frank is terribly disappointed because his grandfather’s business keeps him from showing his grandson the sights of New York. As it is rather in Dick’s line of business, he volunteers himself for the job. They have a jolly time traipsing through the great squares and avenues together, and at the end of the day, while thanking Dick, Mr. Whitney advises Dick to become more purposeful in his efforts to better himself.
So Dick does. He works hard, saves what he earns, and makes attempts to educate himself. But when his entire savings are stolen, what will Dick do? Can he recover it, or must he start again from the bottom?
Praises.
Dick’s humor, while at times corny, cracked me up on several occasions. This was one of them. Dick has just enlisted young Fosdick to ‘tootor’ him, and they are commencing on thir first lesson.
The two boys drew up their chairs to the rickety table, and spread out the paper before them.
“The exercises generally commence with ringing the bell,” said Dick; “but as I ain’t got none, we’ll have to do without.”
“And the teacher is generally provided with a rod,” said Fosdick. “Isn’t there a poker handy, that I can use in case my scholar doesn’t behave well?”
“’Tain’t lawful to use fire-arms,” said Dick. [pg. 107]
The following scene occurs when Dick manages to recover some stolen money and return it to the rightful owner.
The youth no sooner saw the roll of bills, and comprehended that it was indeed his lost treasure, than from the depths of anguish he was exalted to the most ecstatic joy. He seized Dick’s hand, and shook it with so much energy that our hero began to feel rather alarmed for its safety.
“’Pears to me you take my arm for a pump-handle,” said he. “Couldn’t you show your gratitood some other way? It’s just possible I may want to use my arm ag’in some time.”
The young man desisted, but invited Dick most cordially to come up and stop a week with him at his country home, assuring him that he wouldn’t charge him anything for board.
“All right!” said Dick. “If you don’t mind I’ll bring my wife along, too. She’s delicate, and the country air might do her good.”
Jonathan stared at him in amazement, uncertain whether to credit the fact of his marriage. Dick walked on with Frank, leaving him in an apparent state of stupefaction, and it is possible that he has not yet settled the affair to his satisfaction. [pg. 75-76]
:D
Probably the biggest problem that I have with Ragged Dick is the one that I have with every Horatio Alger novel that I have read. And that is Alger’s portrayal of the world. It is very simplistic. Everyone – bootblacks, millionaires, criminals – is portrayed as simply good or simply evil. The good never struggle with the urge to wrong-doing, and the evil feel no compunction or remorse whatsoever. If a boy wants to better himself, why, all he has to do is determine to do so, save a little money, and hey, presto! he’ll be a gentleman in no time at all!
The Story.
Ragged Dick’s life as a bootblack is straightforward. He scrambles himself up real early each mornin’ – ‘cause that’s when the best customers is up and movin’ – and racks up some business. Then, for the rest of the day, he spends his money buying grub, patronizing the Old Bowery theatre, and generally livin’ life. He's happiest when he hasn’t got a penny left at the end of the day.
Then one day, while out attending his customers, he rambles across Mr. Whitney and his grandson Frank. Frank is terribly disappointed because his grandfather’s business keeps him from showing his grandson the sights of New York. As it is rather in Dick’s line of business, he volunteers himself for the job. They have a jolly time traipsing through the great squares and avenues together, and at the end of the day, while thanking Dick, Mr. Whitney advises Dick to become more purposeful in his efforts to better himself.
So Dick does. He works hard, saves what he earns, and makes attempts to educate himself. But when his entire savings are stolen, what will Dick do? Can he recover it, or must he start again from the bottom?
Praises.
Dick’s humor, while at times corny, cracked me up on several occasions. This was one of them. Dick has just enlisted young Fosdick to ‘tootor’ him, and they are commencing on thir first lesson.
The two boys drew up their chairs to the rickety table, and spread out the paper before them.
“The exercises generally commence with ringing the bell,” said Dick; “but as I ain’t got none, we’ll have to do without.”
“And the teacher is generally provided with a rod,” said Fosdick. “Isn’t there a poker handy, that I can use in case my scholar doesn’t behave well?”
“’Tain’t lawful to use fire-arms,” said Dick. [pg. 107]
The following scene occurs when Dick manages to recover some stolen money and return it to the rightful owner.
The youth no sooner saw the roll of bills, and comprehended that it was indeed his lost treasure, than from the depths of anguish he was exalted to the most ecstatic joy. He seized Dick’s hand, and shook it with so much energy that our hero began to feel rather alarmed for its safety.
“’Pears to me you take my arm for a pump-handle,” said he. “Couldn’t you show your gratitood some other way? It’s just possible I may want to use my arm ag’in some time.”
The young man desisted, but invited Dick most cordially to come up and stop a week with him at his country home, assuring him that he wouldn’t charge him anything for board.
“All right!” said Dick. “If you don’t mind I’ll bring my wife along, too. She’s delicate, and the country air might do her good.”
Jonathan stared at him in amazement, uncertain whether to credit the fact of his marriage. Dick walked on with Frank, leaving him in an apparent state of stupefaction, and it is possible that he has not yet settled the affair to his satisfaction. [pg. 75-76]
:D
Probably the biggest problem that I have with Ragged Dick is the one that I have with every Horatio Alger novel that I have read. And that is Alger’s portrayal of the world. It is very simplistic. Everyone – bootblacks, millionaires, criminals – is portrayed as simply good or simply evil. The good never struggle with the urge to wrong-doing, and the evil feel no compunction or remorse whatsoever. If a boy wants to better himself, why, all he has to do is determine to do so, save a little money, and hey, presto! he’ll be a gentleman in no time at all!
August 19, 2014
I was looking for a bedtime audio book and this one came up on the Librivox site. "A Horatio Alger rags-to-riches story" is so often referenced in our culture and language that I thought I really should find out firsthand what they were like, and picked this one. It's the first in a series, and probably the best, judging from the comments of other readers. It was in later works that the plotlines became repetitive and stale - and Alger was very prolific.
Frankly, I enjoyed the book, quite a bit. The audio files are all around half an hour or less, making them a good choice for bedtime. You'll hear a chapter or two, then the audio device will stop automatically; longer chapters keep you awake too long or disturb your sleep. The plot may be hackneyed and not very plausible, but the story is fun and the writing is in fact very good. I really enjoyed hearing the descriptions of New York City in the 1860s, especially the parts about Central Park, which was in the middle of being constructed at this time. The language is vivid and lively, and echoed lots of what I've heard in Mark Twain's works, like "Bully!" and "Tiptop!" for 'good,', and "That wouldn't answer" for "That wouldn't do." The story mentions shillings, bills drawn on different banks, and typical scams of the period. Dick's pluck and chirpiness are a rather admirable role model - he's very articulate for an illiterate boy! (A point that stretches the plausibility of the story, but still fun.) The book includes lots of details on the finances of the characters, and the importance of dress and personal hygiene in how people form their judgments of others comes up constantly.
One little gem that I gleaned from the book and shared with my phonetician and English-teaching friends:
*********************************************************
"The tapped /t/ in American English goes back to at least the mid-1800s:
From: Ragged Dick Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot-Blacks
by Horatio Alger, Jr. 1868.
CHAPTER IX
A SCENE IN A THIRD AVENUE CAR
The boys had turned into Third Avenue, a long street, which, commencing just below the Cooper Institute, runs out to Harlem. A man came out of a side street, uttering at intervals a monotonous cry which sounded like "glass puddin'."
"Glass pudding!" repeated Frank, looking in surprised wonder at Dick. "What does he mean?"
"Perhaps you'd like some," said Dick.
"I never heard of it before."
"Suppose you ask him what he charges for his puddin'."
Frank looked more narrowly at the man, and soon concluded that he was a glazier.
"Oh, I understand," he said. "He means 'glass put in.'"
Frank's mistake was not a singular one. The monotonous cry of these men certainly sounds more like "glass puddin'," than the words they intend to utter."
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/5...
*********************************************************
It did creep me out a bit to learn that Alger was a pedophile. I picked up on the homosexuality overtones in the chapter where Henry comes to stay with Dick and they share a small bed without difficulty. But we would be depriving ourselves of a lot of creative works if we let personal judgments of their creators guide us. So never mind all that and let the book stand on its own merits.
So, actually, if you're in the right mood for it, I recommend this book for an enjoyable, not very taxing leisure read.
Frankly, I enjoyed the book, quite a bit. The audio files are all around half an hour or less, making them a good choice for bedtime. You'll hear a chapter or two, then the audio device will stop automatically; longer chapters keep you awake too long or disturb your sleep. The plot may be hackneyed and not very plausible, but the story is fun and the writing is in fact very good. I really enjoyed hearing the descriptions of New York City in the 1860s, especially the parts about Central Park, which was in the middle of being constructed at this time. The language is vivid and lively, and echoed lots of what I've heard in Mark Twain's works, like "Bully!" and "Tiptop!" for 'good,', and "That wouldn't answer" for "That wouldn't do." The story mentions shillings, bills drawn on different banks, and typical scams of the period. Dick's pluck and chirpiness are a rather admirable role model - he's very articulate for an illiterate boy! (A point that stretches the plausibility of the story, but still fun.) The book includes lots of details on the finances of the characters, and the importance of dress and personal hygiene in how people form their judgments of others comes up constantly.
One little gem that I gleaned from the book and shared with my phonetician and English-teaching friends:
*********************************************************
"The tapped /t/ in American English goes back to at least the mid-1800s:
From: Ragged Dick Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot-Blacks
by Horatio Alger, Jr. 1868.
CHAPTER IX
A SCENE IN A THIRD AVENUE CAR
The boys had turned into Third Avenue, a long street, which, commencing just below the Cooper Institute, runs out to Harlem. A man came out of a side street, uttering at intervals a monotonous cry which sounded like "glass puddin'."
"Glass pudding!" repeated Frank, looking in surprised wonder at Dick. "What does he mean?"
"Perhaps you'd like some," said Dick.
"I never heard of it before."
"Suppose you ask him what he charges for his puddin'."
Frank looked more narrowly at the man, and soon concluded that he was a glazier.
"Oh, I understand," he said. "He means 'glass put in.'"
Frank's mistake was not a singular one. The monotonous cry of these men certainly sounds more like "glass puddin'," than the words they intend to utter."
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/5...
*********************************************************
It did creep me out a bit to learn that Alger was a pedophile. I picked up on the homosexuality overtones in the chapter where Henry comes to stay with Dick and they share a small bed without difficulty. But we would be depriving ourselves of a lot of creative works if we let personal judgments of their creators guide us. So never mind all that and let the book stand on its own merits.
So, actually, if you're in the right mood for it, I recommend this book for an enjoyable, not very taxing leisure read.
April 9, 2018
12 MAR 2018 - a group read with the 19th Century Literature Group at Yahoo. The read begins next Sunday - all are welcome. I am leading this read so I am starting a bit early to gather notes and extra information.
Project Gutenberg here - http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5348
9 APR 2018 - a terrific feel-good story of how a young boy raises himself up through hard work and dedication.
Project Gutenberg here - http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5348
9 APR 2018 - a terrific feel-good story of how a young boy raises himself up through hard work and dedication.
February 7, 2021
From 1867
I had heard of Horatio Alger more as a term than a writer. I knew what he stood for. The American Myth.
Ragged Dick is a young teen and a homeless shoe shine boy. He does well at his profession, due to his sociable work ethic and sense of humor. Also he doesn't steal. He has the good luck to meet wealthier people who give him better clothes and teach him to manage his money. And constantly tell him how anyone can get rich with hard work and the right attitude.
I can't help but think this is so the better-off class can think all poor people are lazy. Easier that way.
I had heard of Horatio Alger more as a term than a writer. I knew what he stood for. The American Myth.
Ragged Dick is a young teen and a homeless shoe shine boy. He does well at his profession, due to his sociable work ethic and sense of humor. Also he doesn't steal. He has the good luck to meet wealthier people who give him better clothes and teach him to manage his money. And constantly tell him how anyone can get rich with hard work and the right attitude.
I can't help but think this is so the better-off class can think all poor people are lazy. Easier that way.
May 24, 2013
Proto-YA, orphan story, rags to riches, and quite a hoot. I also now really really want some beefsteak and coffee.
Read for YABC May 2013
Read for YABC May 2013
January 22, 2020
"Ragged Dick"; or," Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks" is a novel by Horatio Alger, Jr. It was first serialized in "The Student and Schoolmate" in 1867, and released as a full length novel in May 1868. It was the first volume in the six volume Ragged Dick Series, and became Alger's all-time bestseller. When I first read this I of course, had to find out what "The Student and Schoolmate" was and here it is:
"The Student and Schoolmate" was a 19th-century monthly American children's magazine. It was the product of a merger between the children's magazines, "The Student and The Schoolmate". It began publication in New York City by Calkins & Stiles in 1855, and in Boston the same year by James Robinson.
The magazine went through various name changes: "The Student and Schoolmate" (November 1855-1865); "Forrester’s Boy's and Girl's Magazine" (1865-1866); and" The Student and Schoolmate" (1866-1871); and "The Schoolmate" (1872).
Boys' book writer William Taylor Adams ("Oliver Optic") edited the magazine between 1858 and 1862. He first published some of his boys' books as serials in its pages. Many of Horatio Alger, Jr.'s boys' books were first published as serials in the magazine, including his all-time bestseller, "Ragged Dick."
Ok, now I know that, or I will until I forget it which will probably be within a few weeks. Now on to our author, Horatio Alger, Jr. Alger was a 19th-century American author, best known for his many, many novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of middle-class security and comfort through hard work, determination, courage, and honesty, and his writings were characterized by the "rags-to-riches" stories. I say many because he wrote over 100 books, and his stories, poems, essays, and songs appeared in many periodicals. Alger was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and had two brothers and two sisters. His brother's names were Frances and James, which had me wondering how, with brothers with such common names - common to me anyway - he ended up with the name Horatio, a name definitely not common to me, I didn't find out, not yet anyway. I also found it interesting to know that his father, a Unitarian minister, was pastor of the Second Congregational Society in a small town near Boston with a salary "sufficient to meet his needs." I wonder what a salary sufficient to meet your needs would be? Anyway, Alger's first novel "Marie Bertrand: The Felon's Daughter" was serialized in the New York Weekly in 1864, and his first boys' book" Frank's Campaign" was published by A. K. Loring in Boston the same year. Alger initially wrote for adult magazines, but a friendship with William Taylor Adams, a boys' author, convinced him to write for young people.
I found out when I read the introduction, which I did after I finished the book - I always do that, I've never understood why introductions almost always give the entire plot of the book away - so when I read the introduction I found that Alger had attented Harvard Divinity School and had been installed as pastor of the First Unitarian Church and Society of Brewster, Massachusetts in 1864. However, early in 1866 a church committee of men was formed to investigate sexual misconduct reports about Alger. Church officials reported to the hierarchy in Boston that Alger had been charged with "the crime of...unnatural familiarity with boys". Alger didn't deny it and admitted he had been imprudent, considered his association with the church dissolved, and left town. Alger sent Unitarian officials in Boston a letter of remorse, and his father assured them his son would never seek another post in the church. Officials were satisfied and decided no further action would be taken. It bothered me that church officials were satisfied with him simply never seeking another church post, on the other hand what they were supposed to do about it is beyond me. Anyway, the whole thing is creepy and I'm moving on to the book.
"Ragged Dick" is Alger's all time best seller and was the first of the six volume "Ragged Dick" series. This has me wondering how far Dick goes in this series. Either each book must cover only a few years of Dick's life or by the end he's going to be an old man, I have no idea which it will be. I can picture Dick ending up by the last book as a United States Senator or some such thing, although if it were me going from "rags to riches" I wouldn't want the riches part to end up anywhere near a politicians life. Our hero Ragged Dick is a homeless fourteen-year-old bootblack, known to be an honest young man. This made me wonder if there are still people in cities who shine shoes for a living or for extra money, or for any other reason a person would shine shoes. I've never seen a "bootblack" but I've rarely been in a city either. Dick is generous and industrious, but he is a spendthrift, he spends most of his extra money on going to the theater. Early in the book Dick becomes friends with Frank, a young boy from out of town. Frank's uncle is a very busy man and doesn't have time to give Frank a tour of the city, and Dick offers to take the boy around. During the city tour, Frank learns all about Dick's life and sees in Dick great potential and encourages him to remain honest and become respectable. Being with Frank makes Dick conscious about his own place in life and he resolves "to turn over a new leaf, and try to grow up 'spectable".
And that's the plot, or almost all of it anyway. It did occur to me that perhaps by the sixth book Dick, instead of being honest, hardworking, and good to all, may have ended up the total opposite, perhaps he is in prison by the end of the series; that would still be a lesson for young boys of what could happen if you don't try to become honest and respectable, I have a feeling that's not where Dick will end up. For now anyway, there are some obsticles for Dick to overcome, there's a bully - there's always a bully, and at one point he's accused of stealing, and if you want to know any more go and read the book. You should be able to read it in an afternoon.
"The Student and Schoolmate" was a 19th-century monthly American children's magazine. It was the product of a merger between the children's magazines, "The Student and The Schoolmate". It began publication in New York City by Calkins & Stiles in 1855, and in Boston the same year by James Robinson.
The magazine went through various name changes: "The Student and Schoolmate" (November 1855-1865); "Forrester’s Boy's and Girl's Magazine" (1865-1866); and" The Student and Schoolmate" (1866-1871); and "The Schoolmate" (1872).
Boys' book writer William Taylor Adams ("Oliver Optic") edited the magazine between 1858 and 1862. He first published some of his boys' books as serials in its pages. Many of Horatio Alger, Jr.'s boys' books were first published as serials in the magazine, including his all-time bestseller, "Ragged Dick."
Ok, now I know that, or I will until I forget it which will probably be within a few weeks. Now on to our author, Horatio Alger, Jr. Alger was a 19th-century American author, best known for his many, many novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of middle-class security and comfort through hard work, determination, courage, and honesty, and his writings were characterized by the "rags-to-riches" stories. I say many because he wrote over 100 books, and his stories, poems, essays, and songs appeared in many periodicals. Alger was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and had two brothers and two sisters. His brother's names were Frances and James, which had me wondering how, with brothers with such common names - common to me anyway - he ended up with the name Horatio, a name definitely not common to me, I didn't find out, not yet anyway. I also found it interesting to know that his father, a Unitarian minister, was pastor of the Second Congregational Society in a small town near Boston with a salary "sufficient to meet his needs." I wonder what a salary sufficient to meet your needs would be? Anyway, Alger's first novel "Marie Bertrand: The Felon's Daughter" was serialized in the New York Weekly in 1864, and his first boys' book" Frank's Campaign" was published by A. K. Loring in Boston the same year. Alger initially wrote for adult magazines, but a friendship with William Taylor Adams, a boys' author, convinced him to write for young people.
I found out when I read the introduction, which I did after I finished the book - I always do that, I've never understood why introductions almost always give the entire plot of the book away - so when I read the introduction I found that Alger had attented Harvard Divinity School and had been installed as pastor of the First Unitarian Church and Society of Brewster, Massachusetts in 1864. However, early in 1866 a church committee of men was formed to investigate sexual misconduct reports about Alger. Church officials reported to the hierarchy in Boston that Alger had been charged with "the crime of...unnatural familiarity with boys". Alger didn't deny it and admitted he had been imprudent, considered his association with the church dissolved, and left town. Alger sent Unitarian officials in Boston a letter of remorse, and his father assured them his son would never seek another post in the church. Officials were satisfied and decided no further action would be taken. It bothered me that church officials were satisfied with him simply never seeking another church post, on the other hand what they were supposed to do about it is beyond me. Anyway, the whole thing is creepy and I'm moving on to the book.
"Ragged Dick" is Alger's all time best seller and was the first of the six volume "Ragged Dick" series. This has me wondering how far Dick goes in this series. Either each book must cover only a few years of Dick's life or by the end he's going to be an old man, I have no idea which it will be. I can picture Dick ending up by the last book as a United States Senator or some such thing, although if it were me going from "rags to riches" I wouldn't want the riches part to end up anywhere near a politicians life. Our hero Ragged Dick is a homeless fourteen-year-old bootblack, known to be an honest young man. This made me wonder if there are still people in cities who shine shoes for a living or for extra money, or for any other reason a person would shine shoes. I've never seen a "bootblack" but I've rarely been in a city either. Dick is generous and industrious, but he is a spendthrift, he spends most of his extra money on going to the theater. Early in the book Dick becomes friends with Frank, a young boy from out of town. Frank's uncle is a very busy man and doesn't have time to give Frank a tour of the city, and Dick offers to take the boy around. During the city tour, Frank learns all about Dick's life and sees in Dick great potential and encourages him to remain honest and become respectable. Being with Frank makes Dick conscious about his own place in life and he resolves "to turn over a new leaf, and try to grow up 'spectable".
And that's the plot, or almost all of it anyway. It did occur to me that perhaps by the sixth book Dick, instead of being honest, hardworking, and good to all, may have ended up the total opposite, perhaps he is in prison by the end of the series; that would still be a lesson for young boys of what could happen if you don't try to become honest and respectable, I have a feeling that's not where Dick will end up. For now anyway, there are some obsticles for Dick to overcome, there's a bully - there's always a bully, and at one point he's accused of stealing, and if you want to know any more go and read the book. You should be able to read it in an afternoon.
October 11, 2023
I rate this book 3.5 stars!
I had to read this for my American Political Thought course and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As many reviews say, the society feels a bit unrealistic and at times, oversimplified.
However, I think it’s a great book for people to read, especially younger people to see a tale of overcoming obstacles with a dedication to good principles and education. I loved how the main character, Dick, always went out of his way to help others even if he was struggling.
I kind of put off reading this book, but I was able to complete it quickly in a day for class. It is a quick and entertaining read!
I had to read this for my American Political Thought course and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As many reviews say, the society feels a bit unrealistic and at times, oversimplified.
However, I think it’s a great book for people to read, especially younger people to see a tale of overcoming obstacles with a dedication to good principles and education. I loved how the main character, Dick, always went out of his way to help others even if he was struggling.
I kind of put off reading this book, but I was able to complete it quickly in a day for class. It is a quick and entertaining read!
September 6, 2024
i know these allegations will come as a shock to many, but this book may be a tad bit classist.
May 27, 2013
This was not nearly as satisfying a read as four stars suggests. We have our protagonist, Dick Hunter who behaves well and fortune smiles upon him. He doesn't become a savvy businessman, instead people give him opportunities and he betters himself.
I wish it was longer but I understand there is a second novel to follow up on his adventures.
I'm too tired to suggest any homoerotic undertones. Perhaps the general lack of women is due to the perspective of masculine society at the time?
Be nice to old men who may dress you in fancy clothes. If you have enough money, rent a room and convince a boy to move in with you. You might have to pay his share of the rent but you'll get something out of it. Also, watch out for shifty bartenders. They might rip you off while you are out at work.
This book was adapted for tv as 2 Broke Girls.
Kinda.
I wish it was longer but I understand there is a second novel to follow up on his adventures.
I'm too tired to suggest any homoerotic undertones. Perhaps the general lack of women is due to the perspective of masculine society at the time?
Be nice to old men who may dress you in fancy clothes. If you have enough money, rent a room and convince a boy to move in with you. You might have to pay his share of the rent but you'll get something out of it. Also, watch out for shifty bartenders. They might rip you off while you are out at work.
This book was adapted for tv as 2 Broke Girls.
Kinda.
March 9, 2023
Ragged Dick is a charming, heartwarming story of a 14-year-old homeless boy living by his wits as a shoe-shiner on the streets of New York in the late 1860s. Dick Hunter is a fast-talking, street-wise, larger-than-life character, who is perpetually positive and upbeat, no matter what life throws at him. His glass is always half-full, never half-empty; no matter how ominous the grey cloud hanging above him, he invariably finds a silver lining.
And yet, author Horatio Alger has created an authentic character, who is not above cutting corners to his advantage, but never harming anyone or anything in the process. In fact, when a shoe shine only yielded 10 cents, and a good day’s labor might bring a dollar, Dick is ever ready to show kindness to someone less fortunate than himself—and there is no shortage of such instances. His one, uncompromising principle is that he never steals.
Ragged Dick’s subsistence lifestyle takes a positive turn when—opportunistically as ever—he offers his services as tour guide to a trusting, wealthy man’s nephew, also 14 years old. In the ensuing few hours, readers are given an amusing account of some of the landmarks of 1860s New York, including a Central Park still under construction. Dick is stunned when he is handed five dollars for his services, but more importantly, he benefits from some sage advice about looking beyond his next meal, or the next makeshift shelter for the night.
Once he is made aware of something called self-respect, there is no stopping his vision of a better life. His first outlay from his five-dollar fortune is seventy-five cents to rent a room for a week, thereby eliminating the dynamic, nightly decision of where to lay his head. Again, acting on the freely-obtained advice, he deposits the rest of his five dollars in a bank, and keeps on doing that like clockwork with all his meager earnings.
It is not all smooth sailing, however, and Dick has his fair share of hardships. But his indomitable spirit prevails every time. When he teams up with a fellow boot-black (who has fallen on hard times, but who can read and write), Dick sees his way to becoming literate. He shares his lodgings in exchange for reading and writing lessons.
Through several more adventures, which include the intrepid protagonist almost losing all his hard-earned savings, where he risks his life to save another’s, and when he can put his nine months of determined learning to good use in full-time, regular employment, the trajectory of his life is irrevocably set on an upward path.
This is unashamedly a deliberate feel-good, rags-to-riches story, but told with realism and warmth and a generous helping of humor. Biographical details of author Horatio Alger report that he went on to write many more such stories for a juvenile reading audience, always teaching them useful and lifelong practical lessons. Ragged Dick is a one-sitting read, and the ups-and-downs of Dick’s fortunes, along with his irrepressible optimism and infectious humor, ensure entertainment on every page.
And yet, author Horatio Alger has created an authentic character, who is not above cutting corners to his advantage, but never harming anyone or anything in the process. In fact, when a shoe shine only yielded 10 cents, and a good day’s labor might bring a dollar, Dick is ever ready to show kindness to someone less fortunate than himself—and there is no shortage of such instances. His one, uncompromising principle is that he never steals.
Ragged Dick’s subsistence lifestyle takes a positive turn when—opportunistically as ever—he offers his services as tour guide to a trusting, wealthy man’s nephew, also 14 years old. In the ensuing few hours, readers are given an amusing account of some of the landmarks of 1860s New York, including a Central Park still under construction. Dick is stunned when he is handed five dollars for his services, but more importantly, he benefits from some sage advice about looking beyond his next meal, or the next makeshift shelter for the night.
Once he is made aware of something called self-respect, there is no stopping his vision of a better life. His first outlay from his five-dollar fortune is seventy-five cents to rent a room for a week, thereby eliminating the dynamic, nightly decision of where to lay his head. Again, acting on the freely-obtained advice, he deposits the rest of his five dollars in a bank, and keeps on doing that like clockwork with all his meager earnings.
It is not all smooth sailing, however, and Dick has his fair share of hardships. But his indomitable spirit prevails every time. When he teams up with a fellow boot-black (who has fallen on hard times, but who can read and write), Dick sees his way to becoming literate. He shares his lodgings in exchange for reading and writing lessons.
Through several more adventures, which include the intrepid protagonist almost losing all his hard-earned savings, where he risks his life to save another’s, and when he can put his nine months of determined learning to good use in full-time, regular employment, the trajectory of his life is irrevocably set on an upward path.
This is unashamedly a deliberate feel-good, rags-to-riches story, but told with realism and warmth and a generous helping of humor. Biographical details of author Horatio Alger report that he went on to write many more such stories for a juvenile reading audience, always teaching them useful and lifelong practical lessons. Ragged Dick is a one-sitting read, and the ups-and-downs of Dick’s fortunes, along with his irrepressible optimism and infectious humor, ensure entertainment on every page.
Read
September 28, 2023Read this for my Esem class. This book is just if Oliver Twist and The Catcher in the Rye joined forces to promote The Gospel in of Wealth. Unrelated to the actual content, the guy who wrote the introduction would not stop relentlessly roasting Horatio Alger’s height 😭. “Although Alger stood only five feet two inches—just about the size of the boys who were in his audience—he achieved unexpected stature in American literary history“ and “If all of his individual books were stacked in one pile alongside their author, they would tower more than three feet above his head”. He was almost certainly a pedophile though so it’s deserved.
September 11, 2024
while an important source for analyzing the views of urban reform at the time, this book is inherently problematic and insensitive in its offered solutions. Dick is offered as the “ideal” street urchin, who is able to rise to “respectability” only through being clean and learning how to read.
Also, the whole book is soured when you realize Alger was a known predator, convicted the year before he published this.
Also, the whole book is soured when you realize Alger was a known predator, convicted the year before he published this.
October 24, 2024
I would give this a 2.5-3. i had to read it for school and would not have chosen it on my own but with that being said it was not terrible and i enjoyed it compared to any other book i have had to read for school.
February 7, 2025
This is like if you took all the sauce out of Dickens
January 21, 2021
Brilliant rags-to-riches story which has me ready to run through a brick wall. Great insight into urban life in the late 19th century might I add.
November 24, 2021
This book is kind of like the city version of Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn. The same style, obvious humor, and life lessons of Mark Twain are to be found in Horacio Alger’s work (or at least this one).
The plot revolves around an orphaned young teenage boy living in the heart of New York City, trying to make a living for himself by shining shoes. This well-rounded character gives an honest perspective for readers of what life was like. Relatively quickly, the main character, Dick, is introduced to a couple of people who provide him with an aspiration for a better life. He then strives to remedy his ignorance by providing himself with a tutor, starting a bank account, and renting himself an apartment.
Throughout the book, Dick becomes a hero, meets many new people, and becomes much more well-educated than he ever was before. While reading this, I laughed a lot but mostly became super attached to the characters—specifically Dick. Any fictional character that I am this sad to part with must’ve had a very good writer, and the book it’s in automatically counts as a winner.
The plot revolves around an orphaned young teenage boy living in the heart of New York City, trying to make a living for himself by shining shoes. This well-rounded character gives an honest perspective for readers of what life was like. Relatively quickly, the main character, Dick, is introduced to a couple of people who provide him with an aspiration for a better life. He then strives to remedy his ignorance by providing himself with a tutor, starting a bank account, and renting himself an apartment.
Throughout the book, Dick becomes a hero, meets many new people, and becomes much more well-educated than he ever was before. While reading this, I laughed a lot but mostly became super attached to the characters—specifically Dick. Any fictional character that I am this sad to part with must’ve had a very good writer, and the book it’s in automatically counts as a winner.
September 21, 2021
I had heard of Horatio Alger, of course, but had never read anything written by him until beginning a course in Great American Bestsellers. Published in 1868, it was the first of nearly 100 books written in his lifetime, selling a million before his death and millions after his death. Each book has pretty much the same theme: orphaned boy rises from poverty to respectability (considered to be more important than wealth, although it often results in affluence) through a combination of good behavior and luck. Ragged Dick has been taking care of himself on the streets of New York since he was orphaned at age seven. He is now in his teens and is a successful boot-black. Through a series of fortunate acquaintances who reward him for his moral behavior (he will not lie, cheat, or steal), he improves himself by learning to read and write, manages to acquire some savings, and eventually finds a good position and is able to move on from shining shoes. In Alger's opinion, which he gives voice to through Dick, self-worth and self-respect are the greatest rewards of self-improvement.
Although not the greatest literature, this story was entertaining, especially with the meticulous detail given to descriptions of New York City in the era of incredible growth following the Civil War, thanks to Alger's knowledge of the city and its inhabitants.
Although not the greatest literature, this story was entertaining, especially with the meticulous detail given to descriptions of New York City in the era of incredible growth following the Civil War, thanks to Alger's knowledge of the city and its inhabitants.
February 14, 2024
This is a charming moral tale for boys that is entertaining, with an affable protagonist (whose personality bears a strong resemblance to an earlier famous literary bootblack, Dickens's Sam Weller). Ragged Dick (unfortunately named for 21st century adolescent male readers) exemplifies all the virtues we'd like our sons to have; he's brave, honest, industrious, charitable, thrifty, persistent, and good-natured. And, as in all Victorian children's literature, his virtuous habits lead to success in life, despite his humble beginnings. Like Oliver Twist, Dick faces challenges from thieves and bullies, but also had allies who recognize his good qualities and offer him opportunities, which he makes the most of.
In a society that has embraced moral relativism, boys today could do worse than to read Ragged Dick, with its moral realism and strong sense of right and wrong.
In a society that has embraced moral relativism, boys today could do worse than to read Ragged Dick, with its moral realism and strong sense of right and wrong.
April 4, 2021
I’d heard of Horatio Alger as the author of quite a few “rags to riches” stories, although I’d never read any of them until now. But I’ve been missing out! Ragged Dick is the charming tale of a young bootblack on the streets of New York who’s been on his own since age 7. He’s pretty successful at his “profession,” meaning he can earn up to a dollar a day shining shoes. Then he spends it all on food and entertainment, sleeps on the streets, and starts over the next day with no money for breakfast. Through good luck (a hallmark of the Alger stories) he’s befriended by a rich man and his son, and they teach him how to rise in the world. He has a couple of other lucky breaks, but most of his success is due to honesty and hard work. I hope to read a lot more of these books! They’re short and upbeat, and they leave you with the feeling that life will treat you really well if you make good choices.
March 13, 2020
I've been to several historical lectures about the Irish immigration to NYC in the 1800's. Each time the lecturer recommended reading this book by Horatio Alger. It was written for young people, a pleasant read about a really terrible time and place for poor immigrants newly arriving from Ireland. The author downplayed the seriously dangerous and deadly living conditions, and the book does give a sort of whitewashed feeling of life in that time and place. Since this was directed at a young audience, I understand the restraint. One must take into account the century this book was written. All in all, I enjoyed seeing young Dick rise up in society, as the author paints him as a very fine, deserving young boy.
February 6, 2015
Sort of hilariously preachy! Listen, kids, if you just work hard and work hard some more, your life will be totally wonderful! Presumably this book is famous more for its rags-to-riches propagandist importance to Being A Good American rather than for its awesome writing. But I still thought it was a pretty fast and not-annoying read, as long as I was willing to roll my eyes at the more didactic passages. Also, I apparently forgot to take off my slash goggles while reading, because the Force was strong in Dick/Henry.
April 8, 2014
What I really liked about this book was the description of life in NY city in the late 1800s. The actual story is a bit different from the Horatio Alger mythology of going from rags to riches, it's more like going from crushing poverty to middle class. While our plucky little protagonist Ragged Dick does have a sense of integrity, is personable, and is quite the hard-worker, but he also relies on good fortune for opportunities that he wouldn't otherwise be offered. It is quite cliched, but it is a classic.
June 14, 2017
An amazing story about a boy named Ragged Dick, who, through respect and honesty, rises up from the life of a boot-black, to that of an educated man. It was interesting to read about how Dick managed to live on New York's streets, while keeping his dreams alive of being a respectable man. I really enjoyed reading about Dick's progress, and loved the encounters he had along the way. An overall enjoyable read!
September 10, 2018
This book was delightful in every way. It is a short, quick read, but I so quickly became attached to Dick and deeply invested in his life. It is such a feel-good, happy story and I loved every second of it. I was assigned it as part of American Literature and this is by far one of the top assigned books I've ever enjoyed. I recommend it to absolutely everyone because it is so lovely and a genuine pick-me-up.
July 12, 2025
Independent of what others have written/reviewed, I think it was a really enjoyable easy read. It was so casual in the dialogue and very easy chapters with clear points of stress & success. I really like the idea of a rags to riches story from a shoe shiner. Definitely a solid pocket book.
The whole motif of wanting to be more respectable and to stop being so ignorant about the world is very commendable. I respect how Dick constantly showed how valuable his own person code is when it came to stealing, lying, & his giving nature first. I found it awesome that he understood the value of hard work and patience.
There were other characters in the book who made an impression but Fosdick was my favorite because he was the KEY to learning. I think another great message in here is kind of like a pay it forward mentality.
Negatives: I didn’t think the story was CRAZY but it had its moments. A little cliche in some of the dialogue but i like to think of it as part of the story. You can read how Dick starts to talk better throughout the book. There wasn’t much mention of females in the book and after reading more about the author, I can understand why. Go google him if you don’t know what i mean. Right now I am separating ART from the artist.
I am gonna read the next couple of books in the series because i think they are easy reads to wind down with or good subway reads. I have not enjoyed a short book like this in a while and I really was pleasantly surprised with how it ended.
The whole motif of wanting to be more respectable and to stop being so ignorant about the world is very commendable. I respect how Dick constantly showed how valuable his own person code is when it came to stealing, lying, & his giving nature first. I found it awesome that he understood the value of hard work and patience.
There were other characters in the book who made an impression but Fosdick was my favorite because he was the KEY to learning. I think another great message in here is kind of like a pay it forward mentality.
Negatives: I didn’t think the story was CRAZY but it had its moments. A little cliche in some of the dialogue but i like to think of it as part of the story. You can read how Dick starts to talk better throughout the book. There wasn’t much mention of females in the book and after reading more about the author, I can understand why. Go google him if you don’t know what i mean. Right now I am separating ART from the artist.
I am gonna read the next couple of books in the series because i think they are easy reads to wind down with or good subway reads. I have not enjoyed a short book like this in a while and I really was pleasantly surprised with how it ended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2018
The story of a young boy progressing himself both economically and socially in 19th century New York offers an intriguing viewpoint on American capitalism at the time, and how this has progressed to modern day. Alger clearly promotes the idea that hard work and dedication will unwaveringly lead to economic, and subsequently social success, and that this is the major redeeming trait in mankind. Of course, it isn't to say this is right, but merely an interesting reflection of the time.
The text is also filled with a certain homoerotic element, likely descending from Alger's own alleged promiscuity with underaged boys, making parts of the text a bit creepy and unsettling. The novella is certainly a classic and formed a daguerreotype for future literary works aimed at educating youth, but the subtext and lack of realism leads me away from truly enjoying it.
The text is also filled with a certain homoerotic element, likely descending from Alger's own alleged promiscuity with underaged boys, making parts of the text a bit creepy and unsettling. The novella is certainly a classic and formed a daguerreotype for future literary works aimed at educating youth, but the subtext and lack of realism leads me away from truly enjoying it.
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