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In nineteenth-century New York City, a young bootblack named Dick must do everything he can to survive. When he discovers in himself a will to rise above his circumstances, however, Dick realizes that survival is only one aspect of life. Horatio Alger’s Ragged Dick is both a classic of young adult literature and an artifact of early America.
About the author
Horatio Alger Jr. was an American author best known for his young adult novels that focused on the themes of hard work, perseverance, and the rise from poverty to success. Born on January 13, 1832, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, he graduated from Harvard University and later attended Harvard Divinity School. Alger s works, primarily aimed at young readers, often centered around impoverished boys who, through good deeds, honesty, and tireless effort, rise to middle-class security and comfort. His most famous work, Ragged Dick, became an archetype of the rags-to-riches genre, emphasizing the importance of personal integrity and the belief that anyone, regardless of their social standing, could improve their circumstances with hard work and moral character. Alger s life, marked by his own struggles and hardships, mirrored many of the stories he wrote. Although his works fell out of favor in the 20th century, they were hugely popular during his lifetime and remain significant in the history of children s literature. Alger passed away on July 18, 1899, but his influence on American literature and the genre of juvenile fiction continues to be felt.
Summary
Ragged Dick (1868) is the first in a series of six novels by American author Horatio Alger. In each, Alger uses the Protestant work ethic as a template to not only examine the harsh realities of urban poverty, but provide a hopeful, concrete moral for his young readers.
Dick is a teenage bootblack who lives and works on the streets of New York City. Despite his difficult circumstances, he never loses hope. Dick is determined to both survive and make it in life, and prides himself on his moral standards, refusing to lie, cheat, or steal to get ahead. When he is recognized for his honesty by local church figures and businessmen, they provide him opportunities to work. With the money he manages to save, Dick opens a bank account and begins to rent a modest apartment in the city. As he moves closer and closer to middle class life, Dick takes every chance he is offered and, most importantly, remains hopeful that his hard work and moral vision will not only pay off, but keep him grounded, respected, and alive. Horatio Alger’s Ragged Dick is a simple Bildungsroman with a valuable message that remains a classic work of young adult fiction to this day.
Although Alger’s work was intended for young boys of an entirely different era, many of his themes ring true for our own. In a time of economic crisis and instability, hopeful stories of perseverance and hard work could be a welcome form of entertainment and education. Additionally, Alger’s novel provides a window onto America’s past, toward the very origin of the middle-class promise sought and attained by millions. The Protestant work ethic and the American Dream have been the nation’s defining myths for well over a century, and while there is ample room to criticize their motives and attainability, it is undeniable that they have shaped America’s history and people into what they are today.
With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Horatio Alger’s Ragged Dick is a classic of young adult fiction and American literature reimagined for modern readers.
