Five Hundred Dollars (Illustrated)

or, Jacob Marlowe's Secret

Five Hundred Dollars or, Jacob Marlowe's Secret convinced generations that they could triumph over their circumstances and become an "Alger Hero." The arrival of old Jacob Marlowe to their nineteenth-century town starts a chain of events that bring many changes in the lives and fortunes of fifteen-year-old Bert Barton and his family.

This edition of the book contains 10 unique illustrations that are unique to this edition of the book.

A great example of personal success story-telling from the master, Horatio Alger. 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

Horatio Alger, Jr. (January 13, 1832 – July 18, 1899) was a prolific 19th-century American author, best known for his many formulaic 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. His writings were characterized by the "rags-to-riches" narrative, which had a formative effect on America during the Gilded Age.