Horatio Alger Popular Books
Horatio Alger Biography & Facts
Horatio Alger Jr. (; January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was an American author who wrote young adult novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to middle-class security and comfort through good works. His writings were characterized by the "rags-to-riches" narrative, which had a formative effect on the United States from 1868 through to his death in 1899. Alger secured his literary niche in 1868 with the publication of his fourth book, Ragged Dick, the story of a poor bootblack's rise to middle-class respectability. This novel was a huge success. His many books that followed were essentially variations on Ragged Dick and featured stock characters: the valiant, hardworking, honest youth; the noble mysterious stranger; the snobbish youth; and the evil, greedy squire. In the 1870s, Alger's fiction was growing stale. His publisher suggested he tour the Western United States for fresh material to incorporate into his fiction. Alger took a trip to California, but the trip had little effect on his writing: he remained mired in the staid theme of "poor boy makes good". The backdrops of these novels, however, became the Western United States, rather than the urban environments of the Northeastern United States. Biography Childhood: 1832–1847 Alger was born on January 13, 1832, in the New England coastal town of Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of Horatio Alger Sr., a Unitarian minister, and Olive Augusta Fenno. He had many connections with the New England Puritan aristocracy of the early 19th century. He was the descendant of Pilgrim Fathers Robert Cushman, Thomas Cushman, and William Bassett. He was also the descendant of Sylvanus Lazell, a Minuteman and brigadier general in the War of 1812, and Edmund Lazell, a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1788. Alger's siblings Olive Augusta and James were born in 1833 and 1836, respectively. An invalid sister, Annie, was born in 1840, and a brother, Francis, in 1842. Alger was a precocious boy afflicted with myopia and asthma, but Alger Sr. decided early that his eldest son would one day enter the ministry. To that end, Alger's father tutored him in classical studies and allowed him to observe the responsibilities of ministering to parishioners. Alger began attending Chelsea Grammar School in 1842, but by December 1844 his father's financial troubles had worsened considerably. In search of a better salary, he moved the family to Marlborough, Massachusetts, an agricultural town 25 miles west of Boston, where he was installed as pastor of the Second Congregational Society in January 1845 with a salary sufficient to meet his needs. Alger attended Gates Academy, a local preparatory school, and completed his studies at age 15. He published his earliest literary works in local newspapers. Harvard and early works: 1848–1864 In July 1848, Alger passed the Harvard entrance examinations and was admitted to the class of 1852. The 14-member, full-time Harvard faculty included Louis Agassiz and Asa Gray (sciences), Cornelius Conway Felton (classics), James Walker (religion and philosophy), and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (belles-lettres). Edward Everett served as president. Alger's classmate Joseph Hodges Choate described Harvard at this time as "provincial and local because its scope and outlook hardly extended beyond the boundaries of New England; besides which it was very denominational, being held exclusively in the hands of Unitarians". Alger thrived in the highly disciplined and regimented Harvard environment, winning scholastic and other prestigious awards. His genteel poverty and less-than-aristocratic heritage, however, barred him from membership in the Hasty Pudding Club and the Porcellian Club. In 1849, he became a professional writer when he sold two essays and a poem to the Pictorial National Library, a Boston magazine. He began reading Walter Scott, James Fenimore Cooper, Herman Melville, and other modern writers of fiction and cultivated a lifelong love for Longfellow, whose verse he sometimes employed as a model for his own. He was chosen Class Odist and graduated with Phi Beta Kappa Society honors in 1852, eighth in a class of 88. Alger had no job prospects following graduation and returned home. He continued to write, submitting his work to religious and literary magazines, with varying success. He briefly attended Harvard Divinity School in 1853, possibly to be reunited with a romantic interest, but he left in November 1853 to take a job as an assistant editor at the Boston Daily Advertiser. He loathed editing and quit in 1854 to teach at The Grange, a boys' boarding school in Rhode Island. When The Grange suspended operations in 1856, Alger found employment directing the 1856 summer session at Deerfield Academy. His first book, Bertha's Christmas Vision: An Autumn Sheaf, a collection of short pieces, was published in 1856, and his second book, Nothing to Do: A Tilt at Our Best Society, a lengthy satirical poem, was published in 1857. He attended Harvard Divinity School from 1857 to 1860 and, upon graduation, toured Europe. In the spring of 1861, he returned to a nation in the throes of the Civil War. Exempted from military service for health reasons in July 1863, he wrote in support of the Union cause and associated with New England intellectuals. He was elected an officer in the New England Historic Genealogical Society in 1863. His 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, including Harper's Magazine and Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, but a friendship with William Taylor Adams, a boys' author, led him to write for the young. Ministry: 1864–1866 On December 8, 1864, Alger was enlisted as a pastor with the First Unitarian Church and Society of Brewster, Massachusetts. Between ministerial duties, he organized games and amusements for boys in the parish, railed against smoking and drinking, and organized and served as president of the local chapter of the Cadets for Temperance. He submitted stories to The Student and Schoolmate, a boys' monthly magazine of moral writings, edited by William Taylor Adams and published in Boston by Joseph H. Allen. In September 1865, his second boys' book, Paul Prescott's Charge, was published and received favorable reviews. Child sexual abuse Early in 1866, a church committee of men was formed to investigate reports that Alger had sexually molested boys. Church officials reported to the hierarchy in Boston that Alger had been charged with "the abominable and revolting crime of gross familiarity with boys". Alger denied nothing, 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.... Discover the Horatio Alger popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Horatio Alger books.
Best Seller Horatio Alger Books of 2024
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Fame and Fortune or The Progress of Richard Hunter
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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Rufus and Rose or The Fortunes of Rough and Ready
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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Randy of the River or The Adventures of a Young Deckhand
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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Phil the Fiddler
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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Joe the Hotel Boy or Winning Out by Pluck
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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From Canal Boy to President or the Boyhood and Manhood of James A. Garfield
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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Saving Horatio Alger
Richard ReevesTHE BROOKINGS ESSAY: In the spirit of its commitment to highquality, independent research, the Brookings Institution has commissioned works on major topics of public policy by dist...
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Bound to Rise or Up the Ladder
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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Ragged Dick or Street Life in New York with the Boot-Blacks
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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Helen Ford
Horatio Alger, Jr.Helen Ford by Horatio Alger Jr.: This classic novel tells the story of Helen Ford, a young woman who must navigate the challenges and hardships of life in 19th century America. Wit...
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Falling in with Fortune. The Experiences of a Young Secretary
Horatio Alger, Jr."Falling in with Fortune" is a complete tale in itself, but forms the second of two companion volumes, the first being entitled, "Out for Business." In this story are related the a...
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Frank and Fearless or the Fortunes of Jasper Kent
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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Sink or Swim
Horatio Alger“Sink or Swim” is designed to illustrate the truth that a manly spirit is better than the gifts of fortune. It does not fall to the lot of many boys to meet with such adventures or...
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The Disagreeable Woman
Horatio AlgerThe Disagreeable Woman: A Social Mystery written by Horatio Alger who was a prolific 19thcentury American writer. This book was published in 1895. And now republish in ebook format...
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Brave and Bold or The Fortunes of Robert Rushton
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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Adrift in New York or Tom and Florence Braving the World
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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The Train Boy
Horatio Alger, Jr.The Train Boy written by American writer Horatio Alger Jr.. This book is one of many works by him. It has already Published in 1883. Now republish in ebook format. We believe this ...
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Ragged Dick
Horatio AlgerRagged Dick is a Bildungsroman by Horatio Alger. Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks. It was the first volume in the six volume Ragged Dick Series, and became Alger's allt...
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The Young Acrobat of the Great North American Circus
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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The Young Musician or Fighting His Way
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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Investing in People and Communities
Brian E. Foss"Investing in people and Communities" has been written to raise questions and stimulate new thinking about the roles of boards of directors and staff of nonprofit organizations. Th...
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Governing Effective Nonprofits in the 21st Century
Brian E. Foss"Governing Effective Nonprofits in the 21st Century” offers valuable insight regarding missioncentered, nonprofit governance and management tactics. This publication seeks to fill ...
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The Young Explorer or Claiming His Fortune
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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Slow and Sure, The Story of Paul Hoffman the Young Street-Merchant
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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Ten Traits That Make Nonprofits Great
Brian E. Foss"Ten Traits That Makes Nonprofits Great” offers valuable insight for volunteers, donors and board members who want to invest wisely. This publication is a guideline for those tryin...
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Selected Works of Horatio Alger
Horatio AlgerThe Hamilton Academy, under the charge of Rev. Dr. Euclid, stands on an eminence about ten rods back from the street, in the town of the same name. It is a twostory building, surmo...
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Paul the Peddler or The Fortunes of a Young Street Merchant
Horatio AlgerAccording to Wikipedia: "Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19thcentury American author whose principal output was formulaic juvenile novels that ...
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Julius, The Street Boy
Horatio Alger, Jr.<b>Julius, The Street Boy</b> by <b>Horatio Alger Jr.</b>: This classic novel tells the story of a young boy named Julius who rises from poverty and adversi...
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The Young Explorer
Jr Horatio Alger<p><b>The Young Explorer by Jr. Horatio Alger:</b> In <b>"The Young Explorer"</b> by <b>Horatio Alger Jr.</b>, readers follow the ...
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Rough and Ready
Horatio Alger, Jr.Rough and Ready: Life Among the New York Newsboys written by Horatio Alger, Jr. who was a prolific 19thcentury American writer. "Rough and Ready" is presented to the public as the ...
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Shifting For Himself
Horatio Alger, Jr.Shifting For Himself: or Gilbert Greyson's Fortunes written by prolific 19thcentury American writer Horatio Alger Jr. This book is one of many works by him. It has already publishe...