An exciting story about the power of hard work, honesty, and above all, kindness. Sixteen-year-old Philip Brent leaves his small hometown to seek his fortune in 1880s New York after his spiteful stepmother reveals that instead of being his late father's beloved only son, he is of unknown parentage and must fend for himself. Unwilling to endure a life of dependence on those who despise him and have cheated him Philip strikes out on his own. Alger wrote to instill the principle of Strive and Succeed, Personal Growth and Achievement-to attain the American dream. He inspired countless millions of young people world-wide and was the Mark Victor Hanson and Tony Robbins of his era. "Horatio Alger Jr. was the biggest American media star of his day. when] the sale of 10,000 volumes was deemed a publishing triumph in those days-readers bought at least 200 million copies of his books, placing him in the Stephen King category..".Stefan Kanfer