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Last edited by OnFrATa
October 31, 2023 | History

Horatio Alger, Jr.

Horatio Alger, Jr. 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 were hugely popular in their day.

Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister, Alger entered Harvard University at the age of 16. 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'd molested two teenage boys. He subsequently retired from the ministry entirely 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. He died in 1899.1

American novelist (1832–1899)

Born 13 January 1832
Died 18 July 1899

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  • Cover of: The Erie train boy

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  • Cover of: Ragged Dick: and Mark, the match boy.

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  • Cover of: Paul the peddler: or, The adventures of a young street merchant

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  • Cover of: Bound to Rise
    First published in 1873 15 editions

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  • Cover of: store boy: or, The fortunes of Ben Barclay.

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  • Cover of: The Cash Boy
    First published in 1900 15 editions

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  • Cover of: Brave and Bold: The Fortunes of Robert Rushton

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  • Cover of: Try And Trust
    First published in 1800 13 editions

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  • Cover of: Adrift in New York; or, Tom and Florence braving the world

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  • Cover of: Struggling upward: or, Luke Larkin's luck

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  • Cover of: Driven from home: or, Carl Crawford's experience

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  • Cover of: Paul Prescott's charge: a story for boys

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  • Cover of: Making his way: or, Frank Courtney's struggle upward.

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  • Cover of: Phil, the fiddler: or, The story of a young street musician

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  • Cover of: Walter Sherwood's Probation

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  • Cover of: Helping Himself (Large Print Edition)

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  • Cover of: Only an Irish Boy
    First published in 1911 11 editions

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  • Cover of: Timothy Crump's Ward: The New Years Loan and What Became of It

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  • Cover of: Risen from the ranks: or, Harry Walton's success.

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  • Cover of: Do and Dare [EasyRead Edition]

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American novelist (1832–1899)

Born 13 January 1832
Died 18 July 1899

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October 31, 2023 Edited by OnFrATa merge authors
May 16, 2023 Edited by Drini merge authors
July 30, 2022 Edited by Tom Morris merge authors
July 30, 2022 Edited by Tom Morris merge authors
April 1, 2008 Created by an anonymous user initial import