Horatio Alger

Born: 1832–1899
Nationality: American
Notable works: Helping Himself Andy Grant's Pluck

2 written works

About the author

Horatio Alger was an American writer, born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, in 1832 and died in Natick in 1899. One of the most popular authors of the 19th century, he is known for more than a hundred "rags-to-riches" novels, including Ragged Dick, which center on poor boys who rise through diligence and integrity. These works gave rise to the widely recognized figure of the "Alger hero," a term that has entered the American language. His writing focuses on inspirational coming-of-age themes, with an accessible style, brisk plots, and uplifting endings, and it has had a lasting influence on later American popular fiction about individual striving. This library holds two of his works, Helping Himself and Andy Grants Pluck, which illustrate his thematic direction.

Written (2)

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Helping Himself Horatio Alger · 2016 Helping Himself belongs to a series of rags-to-riches stories of boys achieving the American dream of wealth through hard work. These are stories in w…

3.8

Andy Grant's Pluck Horatio Alger · 2016 Andy Grant's Pluck is one of a series of rags-to-riches stories about boys who achieve the American dream of wealth through hard work. Through these t…