Frank and Fearless; or, The Fortunes of Jasper Kent

"Frank and Fearless; or, The Fortunes of Jasper Kent" by Horatio Alger Jr. is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story centers around the young protagonist, Jasper Kent, who defies a school bully named Nicholas Thorne, thereby establishing himself as a brave and principled character. The book explores themes of justice, the trials of youth, and the struggle against adversity in a boarding school setting. The opening of the novel describes a tense scene at Dr. Benton’s boarding school, where Jasper finds himself confronting Thorne, the school bully who is mercilessly bullying a younger boy named Cameron. Jasper bravely intervenes, standing up to Thorne and defending Cameron, which leads to an unexpected physical confrontation. With a combination of courage and skill, Jasper manages to defeat the bully, thus earning the admiration of his peers, particularly the younger Cameron. The chapter sets the tone for the narrative, introducing the conflict between Jasper and Thorne that will develop as the story progresses, alongside the social dynamics and character relationships within the school environment. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Horatio Alger Jr. was an American author who wrote young adult novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to middle-class security and comfort through good works. His writings were characterized by the "rags-to-riches" narrative, which had a formative effect on the United States from 1868 through to his death in 1899.