Horatio Alger wrote 135 dime novels in the latter part of the 19th century. His stories were rags to riches stories illustrating how down-and-out boys might be able to achieve the American Dream. Alger's stories empathize the need for hard work and honesty as a way to get ahead. Alger describes young men in the city trying to get a head as newsboys, match boys, peddlers, street musicians, and many others Bound to Rise is the story of a young man inspired to become an author after reading the biography of Benjamin Franklin. He leaves home and learns about borrowing, interest, leverage, the value of learning, hard work and false friends. Alger as in many of his books stresses the principles of hard work and high morals as a means to achieving the American Dream.