Tom, The Bootblack: The Road To Success
Jr. Horatio Alger
Jun 2017 · Otbebookpublishing
Ebook
280
Pages
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About this ebook
Tom is a fifteen year old boy who lives in New York City with an old man named Jacob in Mrs. Flanagan's rooming house. They pose as grandfather and grandson, but, while Tom understands that they are no real relation, he knows nothing about his real family. Tom makes a living for them both as a street bootblack. Just before Jacob dies, he tells the boy that he is really Gilbert Grey, the son of a wealthy Cincinnati, OH, businessman named John Grey. However, John's brother James conspired with Jacob to spirit the child away, claiming that he drowned, so that James could inherit the family wealth. Jacob has written a confession explaining all the details. So after Jacob's death, Tom, or Gilbert, heads for Cincinnati to see if he can locate his uncle and claim his fortune...
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.
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