Horatio Alger, Jr.
Who is Horatio Alger, Jr.
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 lives of 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 during the Gilded Age.
All of Alger's juvenile novels share essentially the same theme: a teenage boy improves his circumstances by virtuous behavior. There is a "Horatio Alger myth" that the boy becomes wealthy through hard work, but this is inaccurate. In the actual stories, invariably the cause of success is an accident that works to the boy's advantage after he conducts himself according to traditional virtues such as honesty, c...
Read Full Biography
Horatio Alger, Jr. Poems
- The Object Aimed At
But what "lady patron" as queen holds the sway;
Or sweeping, whose hoops in the street are most sweeping;
The burthen is not of this truth-telling lay,
That should in its reading the world set to weeping,
...
- He Moralizeth Upon What A Day May Bring Forth
"To-morrow!" who'll warrant to-morrow we'll see?
Who'll care the next day or day after for dinner?
...
- How The Author Sometimes Dines
And now by your leave I will try to expound it,
In truth as it is and the way that I found it.
My dinner, sometimes, like things transcendental
...
- The Poet Moralizeth - He Discourseth To Those Who Gorge And Complain
Oh! Kitty Malone--Mrs. Merdle 'tis now--
Was there ever on earth than this, greater folly?
Still gorging, while groaning, and swearing a vow,
...
- Mrs. Merdle Doubts Paradise's Uneating Pleasure
Though Houris are handsome, though lovely the place--
More lovely perhaps than our own country seat--
I never could see, in the light of free grace
What pleasure they have there with nothing to eat.
...
Read All Poems
Horatio Alger, Jr. Quotes
Read All Quotes
Comments about Horatio Alger, Jr.
- Larryladduu: today is the birthday of "rags to riches" writer horatio alger, jr., but to unitarians might be better known as one of the first cases of clergy misconduct.
- Pauljimerson: birthday of horatio alger jr. b chelsea, ma (1832). odest of 5 kids, & he was nearsighted and asthmatic. he was accepted to harvard when he was 16, & he said, “no period of my life has been one of such unmixed happiness as the 4 years which have been spent within college walls.”
- Viraarmstrong: 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 lives of middle-class security and comfort through good works.
- Dannifoley: 4 of 5 stars to ragged dick by horatio alger jr.
Read All Comments