ragged dick; or, street life in new york with the boot blacks is a boys' book by horatio alger, jr. it was published in parts (serialization) in the magazine "student and schoolmate" in 1867. it was then published as a book in 1868 by a. k. loring of boston, massachusetts. it was the first of six books in the "ragged dick" series. it was alger's bestselling book.