
Adrift in New York
'Adrift in New York' Summary
Alger was born in a relatively well to do family with strong roots in the Church. His ancestors were early New England settlers who were among the founding fathers of America. Alger Sr. was a Unitarian minister who hoped that his son would follow him into the ministry, but financial troubles soon compelled young Horatio to abandon these plans. He finished school and went up to Harvard, where he did extremely well academically. By this time he had begun writing and was submitting poems and short pieces to local newspapers and magazines. After college, he returned home with few work prospects. Circumstances forced him to take up an editing job which he hated. In less than a year, he left to begin teaching at a boys' boarding school. He continued writing novels, which were told from a woman's point of view. He drifted between different careers, and finally retired to New York, where he wrote his first bestseller, Ragged Dick. A life of relative ease and wealth began and he adopted several street boys whom he guided into successful careers. He continued to write almost formulaic novels centered round the rags-to-riches theme.
Adrift in New York was extremely popular in its time, like most of Alger's novels. At one time, Alger's fame rivaled that of Mark Twain's in the American imagination. Though hardly known or read now, Alger's novels are interesting and make a very pleasant read.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1904Authors

Horatio Alger
United States
Horatio Alger Jr. was an American writer of young adult novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of middle-class security and comfort through good works. His writ...
Books by Horatio AlgerDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books

Two On the Trail by Edith Elise Cowper
It is an exhilarating adventure story that takes readers on a captivating journey through the untamed wilderness. Set against the backdrop of rugged l...

Pony Rider Boys on the Blue Ridge by Frank Gee Patchin
The Pony Rider Boys are back in action, this time in the beautiful and rugged Carolina Mountains. They face new challenges, including treacherous weat...

Outdoor Chums in the Big Woods by Captain Quincy Allen
The book follows the adventures of four friends, known as the 'Outdoor Chums,' who navigate the challenges and joys of life in the Big Woods. Filled w...

The Adventures of Sammy Jay by Thornton W. Burgess
In the heart of the Green Forest, where the trees stand tall and the creatures roam free, resides Sammy Jay, a mischievous blue jay with a penchant fo...

Deeds of Daring done by Girls by Hannah Hudson Moore
In a world where courage knows no gender, "Deeds of Daring Done by Girls" unveils an extraordinary tapestry of inspirational stories that challenge co...

Mark the Match Boy or Richard Hunter's Ward by Horatio Alger, Jr.
In "Mark the Match Boy," Horatio Alger Jr. continues the narrative of his popular "Ragged Dick" series. Mark Manton, an orphaned match boy, faces a bl...

The Cliff Climbers by Thomas Mayne Reid
In the heart of the Himalayas, where towering peaks pierce the sky and treacherous cliffs guard hidden valleys, a group of intrepid adventurers finds...

Mysterious Island - Shipwrecked in the Air by Jules Verne
In the final months of the American Civil War, five Northern prisoners devise a daring plan to escape from the Confederate capital of Richmond using a...

Blind Brother by Homer Greene
Set in the late 1800s in Pennsylvania, "Blind Brother" tells the story of two young brothers, Tom and Bennie. Tom, 14, and Bennie, 12, work in dangero...

Fame and Fortune by Horatio Alger, Jr.
Richard Hunter, formerly Ragged Dick, continues to advance in the world through luck and excellent morals. He, along with his friend Henry, moves into...
Reviews for Adrift in New York
No reviews posted or approved, yet...