Ragged Dick

Alternate Titles

• Mark, the match boy.

Description

"Ragged Dick" was contributed as a serial story to the pages of the Schoolmate, a well-known juvenile magazine, during the year 1867. While in course of publication, it was received with so many evidences of favor that it has been rewritten and considerably enlarged, and is presented to the public as the first volume of a series intended to illustrate the life and experiences of the friendless and vagrant children who are now numbered by thousands in New York and other cities.Several characters in the story are sketched from life. The necessary information has been gathered mainly from personal observation and conversations with the boys themselves. The author is indebted also to the excellent Superintendent of the Newsboys' Lodging House, in Fulton Street, for some facts of which he has been able to make use. Some anachronisms may be noted. Wherever they occur, they have been admitted, as aiding in the development of the story, and will probably be considered as of little importance in an unpretending volume, which does not aspire to strict historical accuracy.

First Sentence

"WAKE up there, youngster," said a rough voice.

Description

"Though not Alger's first book, Ragged Dick, published in 1867, was the beginning of his series of stories of poor boys who rose from [rags] to riches. ... Of course, little ragged Dick overcomes poverty and scorn to win success as the distinguished Richard Hunter. He, in turn, becomes the protector of Mark, the match boy, hero of the subsequent Alger novel."--Cover.

Subjects

Other Editions

• Ragged Dick: and Mark, the match boy.Collier Books1962-01-01
• Ragged Dick, or, Street life in New York with the boot-blacksLoring, publisher, 319 Washington Street, Boston1868-01-01
• Ragged Dick: Or, Street Life in New York with the Boot-blacksJohn C. Winston Co1910-01-01
• Ragged DickMicroformLoring1970-01-01
• Ragged DickPaperback1st World Library2004-01-01
• Ragged DickPaperbackKessinger Publishing2004-06-30