Literature Network » Horatio Alger

Scholarship Honors Determined Learners; Horatio Alger Prize Rewards Mettle

Content courtesy of

From: The Washington Post
Date: 20080330
Author:Nelson Hernandez - Washington Post Staff Writer

More than 100 years after Horatio Alger's heyday as an author of rags-to-riches stories, something about his tales remains the essence of American idealism: the idea that with a lot of pluck and a little luck, even the poorest can attain middle-class security and happiness.

Alger's novels are not as popular as they were in the 19th century, but real-life stories of the same kind are honored in his name by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, which gives one of the most unusual scholarships in the United States. The private award of $20,000 for students toward college ...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.

Other Articles on Horatio Alger

About Our Articles: We've partnered with Highbeam Research to provide these article excerpts for your research needs. However, due to copyright laws, we cannot publish the whole article. To view these articles in full length you'll need to use the link above to access the free trial at Highbeam.