Hugh Scott - the inner city boy turned construction mogul

If you have never read a Horatio Alger book, the above-linked feature article from the Jamaica Observer is a dead ringer for one: unpromising beginnings, adversity, luck, pluck, perserverance, a patron or two, bad luck, bad guys, more luck and pluck, virtue rewarded, and eventual success. Of course, Alger would have had the success come a bit earlier in life, but that's OK. It's the pattern that counts.

Horatio Alger, Jr., wrote more than 100 books, most of them enormously popular in his day, and many are back in print. Prices are all over the board, both for new and used. Some are available as etexts online.

In addition to various online resources about both the author and the books, there is also a Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, founded in 1947, which presents awards to people who have overcome adversity, and provides college scholarships and internship and job placement help to young people. In addition, they present an annual International Horatio Alger Award: Wayne Gretzky is a former winner. For the most recent news, or for more information on this organization, visit www.horatioalger.org/. As it happens, www.horatioalger.com takes you to the same page.