Joe the Hotel Boy

by Jr. Horatio Alger

Overview

There was a good deal of a mystery surrounding Joe's parentage. It was claimed that he was a nephew of Hiram Bodley, and that, after the death of his mother and sisters, his father had drifted out to California and then to Australia. What the real truth concerning him was we shall learn later (Excerpt)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783958642522
Publisher:	Otbebookpublishing
Publication date:	06/20/2017
Series:	Classics To Go
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	270
File size:	468 KB
Age Range:	8 - 18 Years

About the Author

Horatio Alger Jr. (1832-1899) was an American author whose rags-to-riches tales became a cornerstone of 19th-century literature. Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Alger attended Harvard University, where he studied under the tutelage of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. His early career was marked by a brief stint as a minister, but a scandal involving allegations of inappropriate behavior led to his resignation and a pivot to writing.Alger's stories, often featuring young protagonists who rise from poverty to success through hard work, determination, and a bit of luck, struck a chord with a nation undergoing rapid industrialization and social change. His narratives encapsulated the American Dream, offering hope and moral lessons to a burgeoning middle class. Despite their formulaic nature, Alger's books were wildly popular, selling millions of copies and influencing generations of readers.However, Alger's life was not without controversy. His abrupt departure from the ministry and the subsequent whispers of scandal cast a shadow over his career. Additionally, modern critics have scrutinized his works for their simplistic moralism and lack of nuanced social critique. Yet, his influence on contemporary writers, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jack London, is undeniable. They drew inspiration from Alger's archetypal self-made man, even as they complicated and critiqued the myth he helped to create.Alger's legacy is a testament to the enduring allure of the American Dream, even as it invites ongoing debate about the realities of social mobility and the complexities of human character. His life and works remain a fascinating study of ambition, morality, and the power of storytelling in shaping cultural ideals.
Horatio Alger Jr. ; January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19th-century American writer, best known for his many young adult novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of middle-class security and comfort through hard work, determination, courage, and honesty. (Excerpt from Wikipedia)