What is Horatio Alger?
{{Infobox writer | name = Horatio Alger, Jr. | image = Horatio Alger Jr.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = Horatio Alger, Jr., about 1868 | pseudonym = Carl Cantab<br>Arthur Hamilton<br>Caroline F. Preston<br>Arthur Lee Putnam<br>Julian Starr | birth_date = {{birth date|1832|1|13}} | birth_place = Chelsea, [[Massachusetts]], United States | death_date = {{death date and age|1899|07|18|1832|1|13|mf=yes}} | death_place = South Natick, Massachusetts | occupation = Writer | nationality = American | genre = Boys' books<br />Magazine stories<br />Sentimental poetry | notableworks = ''[[Ragged Dick]]'' (1868) | alma_mater = [[Harvard]], class of 1852 }} '''Horatio Alger, Jr.''' (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was an American writer. He wrote [[magazine]] [[story|stories]] and [[poem]]s, a few [[novel]]s for adults, and 100 plus boys' books. His boys' books were hugely popular. Alger was born in [[Massachusetts]], and attended [[Harvard]] College. He became a [[religious ministry|Unitarian minister]], but his [[career]] as a [[clergyman]] was brief. It ended when his [[congregation]] [[Indictment|charge]]d him with [[child sexual abuse|child molestation]]. [[Criminal]] charges were not placed against him, but his career in the church was finished. He moved to [[New York City]] to become a [[professional]] writer. In 1868, Alger found his place in the literary world with his fourth boys' book, ''[[Ragged Dick]]''. This book is about a poor shoe shine boy in [[New York City]] who rises to [[middle class]] comfort and security through hard work, honesty, and a little luck. The book was a great success. Alger continued to write boys' books. They were similar to ''Ragged Dick'' in [[wikt:theme|theme]] and other details. Characters such as the poor but honest boy, the snobbish youth, and the greedy [[lawyer]] appeared in one book after another. Details changed from book to book, but the essentials remained the same. Boys loved the books. By the 1870s, boys' tastes had changed. They wanted [[cowboy]]s, [[hunter]]s, a