Ragtime
E. L. Doctorow · 1931–2015 · United States
Why it matters
Houdini, J. P. Morgan, and Emma Goldman mingle with invented characters in a turn-of-the-century American mosaic. Historical fiction reimagined as postmodern collage of race, class, and reinvention.
At a glance
historical fictionpostmodern
Difficulty 6/10fast pace320 pagesDense historical collage interweaving real and fictional figures.
Deep dive
Why Doctorow keeps handing real historical figures invented private lives, and what that collision is arguing about who America lets write its own story.
Where to go next
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Steven Millhauser · 1996Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American DreamerLvl 5Medium pace