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Brave and Bold #2
Jack's Ward
Short The boy addressed was apparently about twelve, with a bright face and laughing eyes, but dressed in clothes of coarse material. This was Jack Harding, who is to be our hero.
168 pages, Print on Demand (Paperback)
First published January 1, 1875
2 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Horatio Alger Jr.
446 books96 followersHoratio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19th-century American author, most famous for his novels following the adventures of bootblacks, newsboys, peddlers, buskers, and other impoverished children in their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of respectable middle-class security and comfort. His novels about boys who succeed under the tutelage of older mentors were hugely popular in their day.
Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister, Alger entered Harvard University at the age of sixteen. Following graduation, he briefly worked in education before touring Europe for almost a year. He then entered the Harvard Divinity School, and, in 1864, took a position at a Unitarian church in Brewster, Massachusetts. Two years later, he resigned following allegations he had sexual relations with two teenage boys.[1] He retired from the ministry and moved to New York City where he formed an association with the Newsboys Lodging House and other agencies offering aid to impoverished children. His sympathy for the working boys of the city, coupled with the moral values learned at home, were the basis of his many juvenile rags to riches novels illustrating how down-and-out boys might be able to achieve the American Dream of wealth and success through hard work, courage, determination, and concern for others. This widely held view involves Alger's characters achieving extreme wealth and the subsequent remediation of their "old ghosts." Alger is noted as a significant figure in the history of American cultural and social ideals. He died in 1899.
The first full-length Alger biography was commissioned in 1927 and published in 1928, and along with many others that borrowed from it later proved to be heavily fictionalized parodies perpetuating hoaxes and made up anecdotes that "would resemble the tell-all scandal biographies of the time."[2] Other biographies followed, sometimes citing the 1928 hoax as fact. In the last decades of the twentieth century a few more reliable biographies were published that attempt to correct the errors and fictionalizations of the past.
Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister, Alger entered Harvard University at the age of sixteen. Following graduation, he briefly worked in education before touring Europe for almost a year. He then entered the Harvard Divinity School, and, in 1864, took a position at a Unitarian church in Brewster, Massachusetts. Two years later, he resigned following allegations he had sexual relations with two teenage boys.[1] He retired from the ministry and moved to New York City where he formed an association with the Newsboys Lodging House and other agencies offering aid to impoverished children. His sympathy for the working boys of the city, coupled with the moral values learned at home, were the basis of his many juvenile rags to riches novels illustrating how down-and-out boys might be able to achieve the American Dream of wealth and success through hard work, courage, determination, and concern for others. This widely held view involves Alger's characters achieving extreme wealth and the subsequent remediation of their "old ghosts." Alger is noted as a significant figure in the history of American cultural and social ideals. He died in 1899.
The first full-length Alger biography was commissioned in 1927 and published in 1928, and along with many others that borrowed from it later proved to be heavily fictionalized parodies perpetuating hoaxes and made up anecdotes that "would resemble the tell-all scandal biographies of the time."[2] Other biographies followed, sometimes citing the 1928 hoax as fact. In the last decades of the twentieth century a few more reliable biographies were published that attempt to correct the errors and fictionalizations of the past.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 23, 2017
Great story!!!
This was an adventurous and exciting story. Full of mystery, suspense, and adventure. This story did not have as many lessons as most of Horatio Alger's books. But it was a story that was hard to put down.
This was an adventurous and exciting story. Full of mystery, suspense, and adventure. This story did not have as many lessons as most of Horatio Alger's books. But it was a story that was hard to put down.
August 22, 2025
What a cute story. Innocent and superficial with many holes. i.e. who was paying the $500 a year? A couple hours read with an insight into the society of the late 1800’s.
And I’d say a worthwhile read.
And I’d say a worthwhile read.
March 8, 2020
Such a wonderful story
This rating is worthy due to realistic life of the characters, misfortune, happy turnaround of good people in this story and what life will give in return.
This rating is worthy due to realistic life of the characters, misfortune, happy turnaround of good people in this story and what life will give in return.
July 10, 2012
An enjoyable afternoon read- completely too predictable and neatly concluded, in the best way.
April 6, 2016
It's a pipof a tale. You bet
Big fan and this is a good one yes it is. A few more twists than usual for his work.
Big fan and this is a good one yes it is. A few more twists than usual for his work.
December 9, 2013
I thought it was a good book but there were parts not as interesting as parts of other books.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews