It looks like you're offline.
Open Library logo
additional options menu
Last edited by OnFrATa
October 31, 2023 | History

Horatio Alger, Jr.

13 January 1832 - 18 July 1899

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

1587 works Add another?

Sorting by Sorted by: Most Editions | First Published | Most Recent | Top Rated | Reading Log | Random

Showing all works by author. Would you like to see only ebooks?

  • Cover of: Adrift in New York

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Risen from the ranks, or, Harry Walton's success

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Strive and succeed: the story of Walter Conrad's success

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Hector's Inheritance or The Boys of Smith Institute

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Herbert Carter's legacy, or, The inventor's son

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Strive and Succeed: or, The progress of Walter Conrad

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Facing the World

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: young outlaw: or, Adrift in the streets.
    First published in 1800 5 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Making his way: or, Frank Courtney's struggle upward.

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Try And Trust
    First published in 1800 13 editions in 1 language

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Andy Gordon, or, The fortunes of a young janitor

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Brave and bold
    First published in 1800 1 edition in 1 language — 1 previewable

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: The young salesman
    First published in 1832 1 edition in 1 language — 1 previewable

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Facing the world: or, The haps and mishaps of Harry Vane

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Chester Rand: or, The new path to fortune
    First published in 1850 2 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: young salesman.
    First published in 1854 7 editions in 1 language — 1 previewable

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Bertha's Christmas vision: an antumn sheaf

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Bertha's Christmas vision: an autumn sheaf

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Nothing To Do
    First published in 1857 1 edition in 1 language

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today
  • Cover of: Nothing to eat ...: Not by the author of "Nothing to wear" ...

    My Reading Lists:

    Create a new list

    Check-In

    ×Close
    Add an optional check-in date. Check-in dates are used to track yearly reading goals.
    Today

ID Numbers

Links (outside Open Library)

No links yet. Add one?

Alternative names

History

Download catalog record: RDF / JSON
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