Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow
Set in the early 20th century, this novel intertwines the lives of fictional characters with real historical figures, creating a vivid portrayal of America's past. The narrative follows the lives of an upper-class family in New Rochelle, New York, an African-American musician from Harlem, and a Jewish immigrant and his daughter, while also featuring historical figures like Harry Houdini, J.P. Morgan, and Henry Ford. The novel explores themes of wealth, race, and class, against a backdrop of significant historical events, such as the onset of World War I and the rise of the labor movement.
The 337th greatest book of all time
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following lists:
- 4th on Quintessential American Fiction, According to the Rest of the World (Literary Hub)
- 15th on Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels (Entertainment Weekly)
- 86th on The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels (Modern Library)
- 285th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels (TIME Magazine)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers (Parade)
- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 (The Modern Library (Book))
- How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Reading List (Thomas C. Foster)
- National Book Critics Circle Award - Fiction (National Book Critics Circle)
- The 100 Greatest American Novels, 1893 – 1993 (Jeff O'Neal at Bookriot.com)
- 50 Books to (Re-)Read at 50 (nextavenue)