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Tattered Tom #2
Paul the Peddler
"Now, mother, I hope supper is 'most ready, for selling neckties has made me hungry." "Almost ready, Paul." It was a humble meal, but a good one. There were fresh rolls and butter, tea and some cold meat. That was all; but the cloth was clean, and everything looked neat. All did justice to the plain meal, and never thought of envying the thousands who, in their rich uptown mansions, were sitting down at the same hour to elaborate dinners costing more than their entire week's board. -from "Chapter VIII: A Stroke of Luck" It's entirely possibly that the 20th-century concept of "the American dream" would not exist without the cheerfully idealistic novels of Horatio Alger, Jr. Enormous bestsellers in their day, Alger's rags-to-riches tales nurtured the nation's faltering idealism during the economic inequities of the Gilded Age. Paul the Peddler, from 1871, follows the typical Alger format: Paul Hoffman is a poor but industrious 14-year-old who ekes out a living for himself and his mother hawking whatever he can on the desperate streets of New York City... until his hard work and integrity pay of in wealth and comfort. This is a charming work, its hard-bitten romance tempered by its celebration of virtue and strength of character. American writer HORATIO ALGER, JR. (1832-1899) wrote well over 100 novels, among them Ragged Dick; or, Street Life in New York (1867), Sink or Swim (1870), and Tattered Tom; or, The Story of a Street Arab (1871).
- GenresFiction
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1871
6 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Horatio Alger Jr.
445 books97 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 8, 2022
Paul Hoffman is a poor but industrious 14-year-old who ekes out a living for himself and his mother by selling whatever he can on the streets of New York City. He sells ties, newspapers, matches–whatever it takes to get ahead. He even devises his own lottery by selling envelopes that contain candy, plus one to ten cents in money. By selling the envelopes for a nickel, he makes a tidy profit, until other, less scrupulous boys copy his scheme and steal his clientele. Not to worry–by following tried and true principles like hard work and honesty, plus being willing to fight when necessary, he comes out on top. We expect this from a Horatio Alger story, but the details are never trite.
December 2, 2020
Yes, it's formulaic, but the plucky hero overcomes bullies, bad luck and charlatans as he works to support his widowed mother and younger brother still satisfies.
It's a quick read, perfect for anyone like me who's behind in her 2020 reading goals.
It's a quick read, perfect for anyone like me who's behind in her 2020 reading goals.
January 3, 2017
A classic Alger novel where all the pieces of the formula fall into place.
A young boy supports his family through earnest labor and honesty. Unlike most Alger novels, the plot keeps the unlikely circumstances to a minimum. The one strange event being the affair of the valuable ring, which occupies the last half of the book. This device eliminates the usual rescue by an influential rich man, but it does still require a reputable rich man to vouch for Paul honesty in circumstances that would never occur in the real world.
A fun and fine read.
A young boy supports his family through earnest labor and honesty. Unlike most Alger novels, the plot keeps the unlikely circumstances to a minimum. The one strange event being the affair of the valuable ring, which occupies the last half of the book. This device eliminates the usual rescue by an influential rich man, but it does still require a reputable rich man to vouch for Paul honesty in circumstances that would never occur in the real world.
A fun and fine read.
May 29, 2013
After his father died, Paul had to learn to work the streets to help support his seamstress mother and lame but artistic little brother. He follows Alger's principles: keep at it, adapt, learn the tricks of the trade, stay honest, and be ready to fight when necessary. Not totally predictable--one of Alger's better stories.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews