Ragged Dick: Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot-Blacks

“[Alger]wasanutterlyAmericanartist...andthetruthofhisbooksisthetruthofthepowerofthewish....AlgerwasperhapsAmericancapitalism’sgreatestandmosteffectivepropagandist.”?CRichardWrightIntroductionbyDavidK.ShiplerWrittentoinspireschoolboystostrivefor“honesty,industry,frugality,andaworthyambition,”thenovelsofHoratioAlger(1832—99)areinfusedwithgreathumanity,broadhumor,andasurprisinglysophisticatedviewofGildedAgepropriety.CentraltoAlger’sphilosophyisthenotionthatheroeslikeRaggedDick,apoorboot-black,managetogetaheadbydintofhardwork,resourcefulness,luck,pluck,andfairplay.Alger’supwardlymobileheroeshavebecomeparagonsofmiddle-classcomfortandmoralstanding,andtheirjourneysfromragstorespectabilityhavelongbeenviewedastheveryembodimentoftheAmericanDream.InthisModernLibraryPaperbackClassic,thetextofRaggedDickissetfromthefirstAmericanbookeditionof1868.IncludesaModernLibraryReadingGroupGuide.,