66 pages • 2 hours read
Horatio AlgerRagged Dick
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1868A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Horatio Alger’s Ragged Dick, a 14-year-old bootblack named Dick Hunter navigates the streets of New York City in the nineteenth century. With his sharp wit, honesty, and hard work, Dick rises from humble beginnings to prosperity by improving his education, securing a respectable appearance, and taking advantage of lucrative opportunities, ultimately earning a position as a clerk in a counting-house.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Horatio Alger's Ragged Dick is praised for its inspirational story and positive portrayal of upward mobility through hard work and perseverance. Readers appreciate the moral lessons and relatable protagonist. However, some criticize its dated language and simplistic plot, considering them less engaging by modern standards. Overall, it remains a noteworthy classic in children's literature.
Who Should Read Ragged Dick?
Readers who enjoy Horatio Alger's Ragged Dick are often drawn to rags-to-riches stories with a moral lesson. Fans of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or Charles Dickens's David Copperfield may appreciate the heroic perseverance and social mobility themes. This book appeals to those who delight in nineteenth-century American literature and inspirational narratives.