A Debt of Honor

Horatio Alger, Jr. was a prolific American writer known for his popular boys' books, which often featured themes of perseverance and upward mobility. Born in Massachusetts and a Harvard graduate, he briefly served as a Unitarian minister before leaving the clergy due to scandal. Relocating to New York City, he found success in literature, particularly with his 1868 work "Ragged Dick," which solidified his status in the literary world. Alger's stories typically emphasized the virtues of hard work and determination in overcoming adversity.