Chances are that you have never heard of Horatio Alger. In his time,
that is, during the last two decades of the 19th century, he was one the
best-selling writers in the United States of America. Alger was the
author of dozens of novels aimed at young readers, telling for the most
part rags-to-riches stories.
"Ragged Dick" was his most famous
book. Its protagonist, a quintessential Alger character, tries out his
hand at different professions until he finally achieves the life of
prosperity that he pursues. "He went into business," wrote Alger in that
novel, "starting in a small way, and worked his way up by degrees."
If
you read Alger's novels nowadays, you might find their plot too simple.
His characters were, to a certain extent, stereotypes. Did Alger's
stories take place in exotic, exciting settings? No, that was mostly not
the case. Was Alger an author known for his ability to write impressive
dialogue? Hardly. His prose was fine, but not spectacular.
Literary
critics who have studied Alger's work often conclude that his
extraordinary popularity was based on the fact that "his stories
responded well to the spirit of his time," a period of adventurous
entrepreneurs and rapid economic progress.
This conclusion might
be true, but in my view, it still leaves an important aspect out of the
picture. If you read Horatio Alger's stories, you will find that they
address important life issues. His novels revolved around fundamental
values such as ambition, independence, and integrity.
The
recurring message in Alger's books is that you, the reader, has the same
right to succeed as anybody else, irrespective of your origin, family,
or personal history. If you don't give up and keep on pushing, you might
just make it.
"Keep up a little longer and we will save you,"
wrote Horatio Alger in the final chapter of his best-selling book. "Dick
heard the shout and it put fresh strength into him. He battled manfully
with the treacherous sea, his eyes fixed longingly on the approaching
boat. Hold on tight, little boy, there's a boat coming."
No
wonder that those who read Alger's novels in the late 19th century liked
them so much. At that time, when the world was still untouched by
radio, films, and television, Alger's popular fiction was a bright sign
pointing to a better future, telling each of his readers that he had
been selected to make his dreams come true. Today, a century later, this
message of hope is something that we don't get to hear often enough.
For more information about
rational living and personal development, I refer you to my book
The
10 Principles of Rational
Living
Text: http://johnvespasian.blogspot.com
Image by Chuck Nhorus under Creative
Commons Attribution License. See the license terms under
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