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Ragged Dick and Struggling Upward (Penguin Classics)
Author: Horatio Alger Jr.,Carl Bode(Photographer)
ISBN: 0140390332
Publisher: Penguin Classics - 1985-01-08
Format: Paperback
Book Details Customer Reviews
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Customer Reviews:

Ragged Dick - "rags to riches"

During 1850s, common stories about "poor city youths, newsboys and bootblacks" who became rich and famous which were popular. (Introduction, p. X) In "Ragged Dick" we have a young boy who is our "hero" or a main character which book concentrates upon. Alger opened up Dick's identity, inspirations, dreams, plans and hopes. Dick was a sarcastic youngster, generous towards friends, gambler and smoker. At the same time, he never steals, neither cheats nor hurt younger boys and this makes him a "noble" young gentleman. "[Dick's] pants were torn in several places, and had apparently belonged in the first instance to a boy two sizes larger than himself. He wore a vest, all the buttons of which were gone except two, out of which peeped a shirt which looked as if it had been worn a month. To complete his costume he wore a coat too long for him, dating back, if one might judge from its general appearance, to a remote tranquility." (p. 4) Throughout the book Alger draws us to see the transfer of a boy who once was Ragged Dick into a respectable young gentleman Richard Hunter. "When Dick was dressed in his new attire, with his face and hands clean, and his hair brushed, it was difficult to image that he was the same boy" Dick changes from being uneducated, dirty and wearing ragged clothes that are too big for him into a "quite handsome...young gentleman, except that his hands were red and grimy". (p. 24) Alger could have made Dick a good looking, rich and educated young gentleman but he chose completely the opposite. This way of writing only made it more realistic since not everyone becomes rich; we work hard to get there.

Throughout the book, Alger opens the identities of all the characters, draws images of the New York City streets, transportation and structures. We learn about the games, cheats, crooks and tricks happening on the streets. (Introduction, p. xi) Alger draws our attention to the juvenile boys' desires for simple things such as: "a steady job, a decent place to sleep, a suit of clothing, respect from others" as well as planning for future. (Introduction, p. xii) There are a lot of details used to make our minds actually see the real pictures of the situations. Some of the details include about the greatest pleasure that Dick is experiencing with his saving's account that keeps on growing very slowly with every week and the first experience of washing his face because "[washing] the face and hands is usually considered proper in commencing the day, but Dick was above such refinement" (p. 4) Dick was unable to wash his hands and face since he was living on the street.

The reason why I think Ragged Dick was a success is because this story was easy to read as well as inspiring. I had been left with a feeling that just as Dick kept telling his friends they can become smart and rich, I could too. I also find it interesting how this uneducated, dirty, sarcastic, young boy over the period of approximately one year turn into this young noble gentleman. Just as Dick wasn't successful in everything he did, we tend to somehow compare ourselves to him. His life is quiet realistic and can be compared to some of our own lives. Although I do believe that Dick was a bit too optimistic then some of us, which is why not all of us will have the same ending.

Two Great Stories, One Little Book

I read this book for my U.S History II class and enjoyed it thoroughly. Although the characters "struggle", both stories were very entertaining and humorous. The story is very sincere and leaves the reader feeling inspired.

Banana's in Pajamas

Ragged Dick I feel is a good book because it talks about life without money, and just the hardships that Dick faced everyday. Like how he was going to earn his money to pay for his meals. If he was lucky maybe a place to sleep. He had a friend Johnny Nolan who was in the same situation as Dick but he would not work as hard or did not have the drive to work to make the money he needed to, to survive. Dick would shine every business mans shoes as much as they wanted him to and run and change bills for them. This all gains trust with Dick and his clients. That he would have trusting customers that would now look for him and not someone that they do not. He would slowly start to have a somewhat stable business.
Dick and his friend Johnny did many things together which made them close friends. But when Dick was going to go make a buck or what ever he could do to make his customers happy with his work, Johnny would go and mess around instead of worrying about his next step in life. He was just floating along doing the least amount of work possible to survive. When mealtime came around Dick being the nice and sharing boy, he would pay for him as well. Not even expecting Johnny to ever pay him back, knowing that Johnny wasn't good for it.
This story grabbed a hold of me from the start and didn't let go of me until the end which was great to have a book that I could read and not worry about falling asleep while reading, an old book.

An entertaining read promoting self-reliance and hard work

If you like underdog rags-to-riches stories and want to believe in an America where hard work and integrity still hold the key to success, then this book is for you. This is a fun book and Alger is a gifted writer. His Ragged Dick character is witty and charismatic, rising up from homeless street urchin to respected bookkeeper by dint of hard work, frugality and focused study. In an age of corporate greed and scandals (this year: Enron, Martha Stuart insider trading, etc.) it is refreshing to read stories where ordinary people transcend their circumstances with honesty, hard work, integrity, and compassion.

Horatio Algier Jr. - Honesty and Hard Work Will Always Pay

I had heard so much about Horatio Algier Jr., but never took to the time to read any of his stories. Ragged Dick and Struggling Upward are two novelettes that teach Algier's recurring theme that honesty and hard work will always pay. Yes, the stories are overly simplistic, but they are refreshing and make for a good wholesome read. It was fascinating to read these stories that were written in the mid 19th century. When Algier writes about a stagecoach ride in Struggling Updward, he is not doing so from an historical perspective, but likely from personal experience. Don't miss the introduction by Carl Bode. There are some interesting facets of Algier's life that hardly live up to the standards that he set for his heroes. Nonetheless, the author offers light reading with very positive and hopeful messages that are still relevant today.

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Editorial Reviews:

The hero of 'Ragged Dick' is a veritable 'diamond in the rough'-as innately virtuous as he is streetwise and cocky. Immediately popular with young readers, the novel also appealed to parents, who responded to its colorful espousal of the Protestant ethic. 'Struggling Upward' published nearly thirty years later, followed the same time-tested formulas, and despite critical indifference it, too, had mass appeal.

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