Horatio Alger books in order
American novelist
- Lived
- 1832–1899
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 68
- Also writes as
- Charles F. Preston
Horatio Alger published 20 novels, 1 novella, 1 short story collection, 23 children's books and 23 other books, beginning with Ragged Dick (1868).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Horatio Alger
Standalone novels in order
The Young Salesman (1854)
Helen Ford (1866)
Ragged Dick (May 1868)
Jack's Ward (1875)
The Train Boy (1883)
The Young Circus Rider (1883)
Hector's Inheritance (1885)
Frank Fowler, the Cash Boy (1887)
Joe's Luck (1887)
The Errand Boy (1888)
Tom Temple's Career (1888)
Frank and Fearless (1897)
Walter Sherwood's Probation (1897)
Andy Grant's Pluck (1900)
Brave and Bold (1900)
Randy of the River (1906)
In Search of Treasure (1907)
Wait and Win (1908)
Luke Walton (1910)
Novellas in order
The Cash Boy (1900)
Short story collections in order
Ralph Raymond's Heir (1892)
Children's books in order
Facing the World (1850)
Frank's Campaign (1864)
Fame and Fortune (1868)
Mark, the Match Boy (1869)
Rough and Ready (1869)
Rufus And Rose (1870)
Herbert Carter's Legacy (1875)
The Young Outlaw (1875)
The Telegraph Boy (1879)
From Canal Boy to President, Or, The Boyhood and Manhood of James A. Garfield (1881)
From Farm Boy to Senator (1882)
Abraham Lincoln, the Backwoods Boy (1883)
Do and Dare, or (1884)
Tom Thatcher's Fortune (1888)
Struggling Upward (1890)
The Erie Train Boy (1890)
In a New World (1893)
Frank Hunter's Peril (1896)
The Young Bank Messenger (1898)
Adrift in New York (1900)
Andy Gordon (1900)
Paul the Peddler (1900)
The Young Book Agent (1905)
Other books in order
Chester Rand (1850)
Nothing to Do (1857)
Timothy Crump's Ward (1866)
Ben, the Luggage Boy (1870)
Sink or Swim (1870)
The Young Adventurer (1870)
Strong and Steady (1871)
Phil, the Fiddler (1872)
Slow and Sure (1872)
Bound to Rise (1873)
Julius, the Street Boy (1874)
Risen from the Ranks (1874)
Sam's Chance (1876)
Shifting for Himself (1876)
Bob Burton (1890)
Five Hundred Dollars (1890)
The Store Boy (1890)
Helping Himself, Or, Grant Thornton's Ambition (1900)
Only An Irish Boy Or Andy Burke's Fortunes (1900)
The Young Miner (1900)
The Five Hundred Dollar Check (1901)
Tom, the Bootblack (1905)
Robert Coverdale's Struggle (1910)
Free to read
All free classics
About Horatio Alger
Horatio Alger Jr. was an American author who wrote young adult novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to middle-class security and comfort through good works. His writings were characterized by the "rags-to-riches" narrative, which had a formative effect on the United States from 1868 through to his death in 1899.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Horatio Alger FAQ
- How many books has Horatio Alger written?
- Horatio Alger published 20 novels, 1 novella, 1 short story collection, 23 children's books and 23 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Horatio Alger's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Ragged Dick.
- What is Horatio Alger's last book?
- The Cash Boy (1900).
- What is Horatio Alger's most famous book?
- Ragged Dick (1868) is Horatio Alger's most widely read book.
- Does Horatio Alger write under a pen name?
- Yes: Horatio Alger has also published as Charles F. Preston.
- Can I read Horatio Alger's books for free?
- Yes. 40 books by Horatio Alger are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Horatio Alger
Frances Hodgson Burnett
Also wrote literary fiction and children's books
Jules Verne
Also wrote literary fiction and adventure
Lewis Carroll
Also wrote children's books and literary fiction
Hector Malot
Also wrote literary fiction and children's books
E. Nesbit
Also wrote children's books and literary fiction
Louisa May Alcott
Also wrote literary fiction and children's books
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.