Only an Irish Boy; Or, Andy Burke's Fortunes

Horatio Alger, Jr. (1832 – 1899) was a prolific American author of the 19-th century. His writings were characterized by the "rags-to-riches" narrative, which had a formative effect on America during the Gilded Age. Alger best known for his many juvenile novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of middle-class security and comfort through hard work, determination, courage, and honesty.


'Only An Irish Boy' is a social novel that represents a bright example of Horatio Alger's writing style. As in many other Alger's books the central figure of the story is a poor boy who struggles for his life. Andy Burke is an Irish boy who is mocked for being a foreigner. Still our boy is optimistic and he believes that a man can achieve a lot in the USA if he works hard and it doesn't matter where he was born. Through the life path of this boy the author reveals the idea of possibilities that are brought by American democracy.