Tom Temple's Career

Horatio Alger, Jr. was a prolific American writer known for his influential boys' books, which captured the imagination of young readers in the late 19th century. Born in Massachusetts and a Harvard alumnus, he briefly served as a Unitarian minister before his career was derailed by scandal. Relocating to New York City, he reinvented himself as a writer, achieving notable success with "Ragged Dick," his fourth boys' book, which solidified his reputation in children's literature. His stories often conveyed themes of perseverance and the American dream.