About Horatio Alger
Horatio Alger, Jr, born January 13, 1832 in Chelsea, Massachusetts and died July 18, 1899, also in Natick, Massachusetts, was an American poet, journalist and novelist who became known in the late 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, by his novels which glorify the American Dream, success and which had a great influence on American society and continue to be read today. At Harvard, he began his writing career, his works including not only poetry and short sketches, but also academic essays on medieval chivalry and Cervantes. He was named the Class Poet, and at reunions much later in life, would deliver odes to the years he enjoyed so much. In 1855 he published his first book Bertha's Christmas Vision: An Autumn Sheaf, consisting of eleven sentimental short stories and eight poems, followed by Nothing to Do: A Tilt at Our Best Society, a lengthy satirical poem, published in 1857. Horatio Alger's novels have seen many reissues so far and most have been reissued between 2010 and 2020 as digital books.Because Alger hardly changed the schema of his novels, their popularity waned over time. Nevertheless, they were bestsellers at the time of their writing and rivaled Mark Twain's books in popularity. Alger is considered a significant figure in the history of US cultural and social ideals.
Horatio Alger is buried in Glenwood Cemetery in Natick.
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