Ragged Dick

Can a lowly shoeshine boy called Dick make his way up the ladder to bigger and better things or is he destined to be poor for his whole life? This classic rags-to-riches story follows young Dick Hunter’s life in New York City from his position as a lowly shoeshine boy to his rise through society. Wildly popular long after it was first published, 'Ragged Dick' is the first story in Horatio Alger Jr. famous series. Dick's confidence, determination, and great sense of humour help him a lot in life, especially with his encounters with people good and bad alike. Horatio Alger Jr. (1832-1899) was an American writer who worked predominantly in the young adult genre. His protagonists are often boys who undergo tremendous transformations and whose humble origins at the beginning are contrasted with their successful careers at the end of their journeys. Among his many novels, the most important ones are 'Ragged Dick', 'Fame and Fortune', 'Rough and Ready', and 'Adrift in New York'. A 1982 musical, Shine!, was based on Alger's work, particularly Ragged Dick and Silas Snobden's Office Boy.