Ragged Dick and Mark the Match Boy [Paperback]

Horatio Alger (Author)

Book Description

Two famous novels by Horatio Alger that focus on rags-to-riches tales.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 382 pages
• Publisher: Scribner Paper Fiction; 1st Collier Books Edition, 1962 edition (November 1, 1962)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0020413904
• ISBN-13: 978-0020413905
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,119,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review on Ragged Dick and Mark The Match Boy, December 15, 2001

By 

Dan Gross (New Hampton, NH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: RAGGED DICK AND MARK, THE MATCH BOY: Two Novels by Horatio Alger (Paperback)

Reviewer: Dan Gross from New Jersey
Reviews on: Ragged Dick and Mark The Match Boy

Ragged Dick is a story about a boy going from "rags to riches". This story focuses on the life of Richard Hunter, a poor bootblack from New York City. It is a classic story about a young boy without parents who works hard and is honest. The honesty and hard work pays off for him when he does deeds for people in high places.

In Ragged Dick Richard Hunter's honesty brings out the best of people. The wealthy people give him extra attention for his deeds and notice his honesty. For example, he receives money for a shoe and cannot get change so within a few days of the business interaction, he goes to the work place of the man and gives him the change. It also represents respect for his elders.

Story number two of the series is Mark The Match Boy. This too has good morals starting from the youth. This story displays the innocence of a boy coming into the real world. Mark is a boy who is deprived of love. He has no living mother and no family. The purity, which he displays to Richard Hunter, is charming. In this story thievery motivates the conflict. The story display Mark as a by who is similar to The Catcher in The Rye as where Holden Caulfield does not let his sister be corrupted by the real world, Richard is doing this to Mark.

These two stories should be read by not only the youth, but by everyone. They focus on universal morals such as honesty and trust. I can say nothing negative about this book because it is well written, to the point, and very appealing. Not only is it motivating, but also it brings out the best in people and it could change your view on the less fortunate population.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars ragged dick, February 1, 2001

By 

anne loomis roberts (san francisco, ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: RAGGED DICK AND MARK, THE MATCH BOY: Two Novels by Horatio Alger (Paperback)

i think everyone should read at least one horatio alger book, since he so helped shape american morals at the turn of the last century. his very name is a constant catch-all for the american rags-to-riches machine. i inherited my grandfather's set, and, even though one can call these books formulaic, moralistic rot, they capture a spirit and a time in simplistic, bold language that is readable, entertaining, and a fresh peek at cultural history through a primary source. Add to this that i am a teacher who is having my 8th grade boys read it (yes, in part for a laugh), but they are digging it. More than i could have anticipated. Read one paired with Nathaneal West's "A Cool Million," which parodies alger, for a real bully debate about americanism.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mark the match boy, February 23, 2004

By 

Nick Robillard (New Hampton, NH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: RAGGED DICK AND MARK, THE MATCH BOY: Two Novels by Horatio Alger (Paperback)

Elizabeth Anastasi

Mark The Match Boy by Horatio Alger is about a young, poor, orphaned boy forced to make it on his own on the streets. He gets through many obstacles and troubles that come his way with integrity and honesty. Mark shows honesty and integrity throughout the novel. When his friend Ben, who he met on the streets, told him to lie to his customers about the price of his matches to make more money, Mark wouldn't do it. Even if it meant he would go hungry that night,he said he would never accept money if he didn't earn it; that is why he doesn't like begging. Maybe it was fate or pure luck, but Mark catches a break when he learns he has very wealthy extended relatives searching for him. This story will broaden your idea of what is important in life. At the end of the book, you are left with the question; is he just lucky, or is there such thing as fate?
A reason why I liked this book so much was because it was very easy to understand. No matter if you are rich or poor you can appreciate the struggles of being less fortunate or the desire to be wealthy. The characters are realistic and the actions they do are as well. Everything that happens in the book is something that could happen in real life.
Another reason why I liked Mark the Match Boy so much was because it was an easy read. There was no embellishment added to the reading. Because of this, it seemed as though each chapter was its own story. The author speaks to the reader to help them understand and follow the story. Even if you haven't read Ragged Dick, the story that preceded Mark the Match Boy, like I didn't, the author relates back to it so you can understand the entire story better.
I recommend Mark the Match Boy because, Young or old people can be thankful for what they have. This book will open your eyes to what you really need in life and what is really important. After reading this book you will value morality, integrity, and honesty.