Net Worth →
Classic Literature

Tom, The Bootblack; or, The Road to Success: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

Tom, The Bootblack; or, The Road to Success: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Published by Pop Culture Files••2 min read•Automatically generated · review not guaranteed
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

Tom, The Bootblack; or, The Road to Success is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Alger, Horatio, Jr. (1832–1899).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Tom, The Bootblack; or, The Road to Success" by Horatio Alger, Jr. is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows a young boy named Tom, who earns a living as a bootblack in New York City while caring for an elderly man named Jacob, who he believes to be his grandfather. The narrative sets the stage for themes of perseverance, hope, and the quest for personal success, reflecting the typical rags-to-riches motif prevalent in Alger's works. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Tom and his humble life as he provides for himself and Jacob. Tom's character is painted as energetic and determined, embodying the spirit of independence as he balances work and familial care. After a brief interaction with Mrs. Flanagan, a kind neighbor who assists with their meals, Tom heads out to earn his daily wage. Meanwhile, Jacob is revealed to be a miser, secretly hoarding a small stash of money while pretending to be impoverished. This complex dynamic foreshadows significant developments as Tom's resourcefulness is tested, and Jacob's secrets come to light, setting a course for Tom's impending adventures and search for his identity.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Tom, The Bootblack; or, The Road to Success
  • Author credits: Alger, Horatio, Jr. (1832–1899)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Adventure and adventurers -- Juvenile fiction
  • Boys -- Juvenile fiction
  • Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: American Literature
  • Category: Children & Young Adult Reading
  • Category: Novels

Read this edition

View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.

Source notes

Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.

Sources

More in Books & Authors