Ragged Dick

By Horatio Alger Jr.

Book Overview

"Ragged Dick is a well-told story of street-life in New York, that will, we should judge, be well received by the boy-readers, for whom it is intended. The Hero is a boot-black, who, by sharpness, industry, and honesty, makes his way in the world, and is, perhaps, somewhat more immaculate in character and manners than could naturally have been expected from his origin and training. We find in this, as in many books for boys, a certain monotony in the inculcation of the principle that honesty is the best policy, a proposition that, as far as mere temporal success is concerned, we believe to be only partially true. However, the book is very readable, and we should consider it a much more valuable addition to the Sunday-school library than the tales of inebriates and treatises on the nature of sin, that so often find place there."--Putnam's Magazine, July, 1868. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1420961411
• ISBN13: 9781420961416
• Release Date: June 2019
• Publisher: Digireads.com
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Child's Book?

This is a realistic book about a young boy doing "good" and in turn he has many lucky breaks. It is supposed to be a child's book, but I don't know how many children would voluntarily read this. I read it for my Children's Literature class and I loved it! It deals with a less severe form of didactism, which is a nice change. It is a fast read also.

Timeless lessons

This book is a book about timeless virtues and friendship. It is book about rising to find one's place in society. With newer books today attempting to push political special interests, this is a personal message. The story shows how one can rise with a simple positive character and persistence. These stories should be brought to the forefront in today's education. A simple warm and inspirational story for young and old alike. I wish I had the power and will to bring these to all middle schools and other young people.

Appealing!

Great writing and an excellent read. Truly a delight. I highly recommend it.

INTERESTING READING

I can honestly say that at first I thought this book would be boring and I would have to force myself to read it. I was wrong!! This book was so interesting, funny and heart felt, it made me laugh and teary-eyed all at the same time. I have recommended this book to people that don't even have to read it as a class assignment. At night before I went to bed I would read it and on my lunch break I would go into my car and read it, I couldn't put it down until I read the whole story. If I had to sum it up in one word it would be EXCELLENT!!!!

Not Suitable for pre-college youth

This may be a good book but the foreword is written by a fellow named Trachtenberg who not only claims Mr. Alger was a pedophile [unsubstantiated] but then he challenges the idea of upward mobility. Apparently Mr. Trachenberg achieved his own success through being born with a silver spoon, nepotism, or his ethnic associates. There is only Alger book available at a moderate cost. It is "Struggling Upward," which is one of the best and most famous.