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Ragged Dick
Ragged Dick
Ragged Dick
Audiobook5 hours

Ragged Dick

Written by Horatio Alger

Narrated by Don Hagen

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

()

About this audiobook

Ragged Dick is the story of a young bootblack living and working in the streets of a post-Civil War New York City. It follows his rise from a street kid to the respectable middle class. The original publication, released as a six volume series, came to depict a time of post-war struggle through the eyes of its young victims, vagabond children. Originally written as young-adult moral tales using the classic rags-to-riches theme, Ragged Dick is also Algers' timeless snapshot into an all but forgotten period in American history, and the ever relevant struggle for economic and social status.

Horatio Alger was born on January 13, 1834 in Chelsea, Massachusettes. Alger began writing in earnest and being a published author at the age of 17. After graduating from Harvard, Alger obtained a position in ministry in a Unitarian Church, but was dismissed on scandalous and incriminating charges. Around 1866, Alger moved to New York, a time that marked the beginning of a very successful writing career. Around this time, the Ragged Dick series was being published as a serial, and in 1868 it was published as a complete novel. In New York City, Alger took a special and personal interest in the street children and became a frequent visitor to their popular haunts. Perhaps this is what gave him a clear insight into their trials and tribulations and aided in creating the simple yet timeless story of Ragged Dick. Eventually, Alger took two street children into his home and informally adopted them.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherAscent Audio
Release dateAug 6, 2013
ISBN9781469026138
Author

Horatio Alger

Horatio Alger (1832-1899) was an American author of children’s literature. While the majority of his works are young adult novels categorized by what came to be called the “Horatio Alger myth”—in which a young boy escapes poverty through hard work, determination, and the assistance of a wealthy benefactor—Alger also wrote poetry and short stories throughout his long, successful career. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Alger was greatly inspired by the Protestant work ethic, and sought to write books for children with moral, inspirational themes. Successful during his lifetime, Alger’s works remained popular through the beginning of the twentieth century, and to this day he is recognized as a pioneer of young adult fiction.

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Reviews for Ragged Dick

Rating: 3.2894737 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

76 ratings7 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A Book About the Gilded Age*Count me among the many who confused Horatio Alger with one of his characters (which the introduction to Ragged Dick avers is common). I am college-educated and well-read, but I continue to be proven ignorant in my knowledge of both American history and literature.Ragged Dick is a likable fourteen year old street urchin in New York in the late 1800's. He is street-wise but also wise in a way that seems unlikely for a teenager who was turned out onto the street at seven. Alger instills him with more than his share of virtues, through which he rises above the less industrious children he is competing against. Along the way he meets Alger's archetypes of the characteristics that breed both success and failure: businessmen, bullies, men of faith, grifters - a menagerie of people meant to demonstrate the right way to get ahead in the world.In spite of the obviousness of Alger's intentions, Ragged Dick is a funny, enjoyable book. Like the fictive people of New York who befriend him, you cannot help but like its eponymous protagonist for his wit and positive outlook. While Alger downplays the deplorable conditions his hero lives in and the things people accepted (such as children living alone on the street and adults paying them for shoe shines without taking any interest in their plight), you will find yourself appalled at it. You will also find yourself rooting for Dick to overcome the obstacles against him, and be rewarded with a happy but incomplete ending, as this is only the first in a series of Alger books starring this character. * - I've had to set my themed reading list aside for now, as I'm taking a couple literature classes this summer through a state program that provides free tuition for Texas residents over 55. This novel is assigned for my 19th Century American Literature class focused on the Gilded Age.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Typical Horatio Alger story; was a suggested read to see the style of writing and the ways of a typical street urchin.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I actually read this when I was in elementary school, and I love it even now! It's funny, engaging, and inspiring, as it follows the story of Dick Hunter from his position as a lowly bootblack to an honorable member of society. One of my favorite childhood stories :)
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    OK. He had me until the end. This previously homeless kid is an expert swimmer? Seriously? Where did he learn? Where did he swim? Who taught him? I know it's just some silly adolescent book that is decades old, but you should still not have plot holes like this. Otherwise, it was very good. The character of Dick was a really entertaining character.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    On the surface, this is a great story. A poor street-smart boy cares for himself, helps his friends, and eventually with a bit of mentoring, learns how to improve his life. When MUCH younger I read one of Alger's books and I was besotted. But if you dig deeper, you realize the absolute horror of this life: these boys were fending for themselves some at a very young age because their parents had either died, taken ill and couldn't work, or because they had been abandoned. Most had no shelter, winter or summer, owned only one set of clothes, in tatters, ate only when they had enough money earned from boot-blacking, selling newspapers, making deliveries and similar menial jobs. Many turned to theft to survive. Yes, some were lazy but many worked hard never managing to improve their lives. And if this was street-life for boys, how much worse it must have been for girls in similar circumstances. Like Alger it would be nice to believe that all it takes to succeed is hard work and education but that is a "fairy-tale," an over-simplified, self-righteous and unfair premise.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Horatio Alger is a writer people talk about as though they've read him without ever actually reading him. I am guilty of this. We think we know what an "Horatio Alger story" is, but few of us have first hand experience. So I picked up a copy of Ragged Dick or Street Life in New York with the Boot Blacks at a used book store and gave it a go. One should know what one is talking about whenever possible.Ragged Dick was exactly what I expected a Horatio Alger story to be, except when it was more than I expected. The story is the first in Alger's Richard Hunter series. We are introduced to Ragged Dick, as he is known, a young boot black, or shoe-shine boy with spunk to spare. Dick is full of life, upbeat in his outlook, cheery to a fault. He faces life on his own, on the streets of mid-eighteenth century New York City with a level of pluck and good-hearted determination that would annoy any modern reader if he weren't so darn likable. The lad is hard to resist, very hard.As the story opens, Dick is "hired" to show a shopkeeper's young son the city. Frank is in town visiting from school during his vacation and has not had a chance to see the sights. Dick takes him on a tour of New York that ends up changing both boys. Frank sees how desperate the lives of those less fortunate than he is are, while Dick sees a new world of opportunities if he'll only apply himself, save his money, and get an education. At the end of the day, Frank goes back to school and Dick begins to improve his life.Ragged Dick is an Horatio Alger story, so there's never any doubt about the ending. Dick befriends another boot-black. Henry, aged 12, had an education before his father died so each night he gives Dick lessons in exchange for the support Dick gives young Henry who has not fared very well on the streets of New York. The two work in tandem, save their money, move off of the streets into a shabby apartment, open a bank account, save more money, get better jobs as shop clerks and move into a decent apartment at the end of the novel. Just what one would expect in an Horatio Alger story.What's unexpected in Ragged Dick, at least for me, is just how unimpressive Dick's ambitions are. This is not a rags to riches story. Instead, it's a rags to respectability story. Dick wants not to be rich, though he'd happy take riches if they came his way. He wants to be a respectable man, like those whose shoes he shines each day. What's also unexpected in Ragged Dick is the grand tour of New York City the opening chapters offer. We see New York City from the underbelly of the Bowery district to the hotels of uptown high society, along with trolley cars, afternoon tea, cheap theatricals and high class shops. Dick's insider status makes him a wonderful tour guide, a diminutive raconteur. Ragged Dick is Horatio Alger's only best selling novel. He went on to write many more, including several more volumes in Richard Hunter's story, but he never became more than an author of tales for boys. That said, he did become a household word, and that should count for something.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I've often heard the expression "Horatio Alger story" to refer to someone who had earned a fortune. I thought it was time to actually read one. Ragged Dick is the story of a "boot black" or shoe-shine boy in New York City who, through hard work and good morals, succeeds in raising his station in life. It is everything I expected it to be, and the main character, Ragged Dick, had a great sense of humour.