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 590th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1975
- Nationality
- American
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 250-350
- Words
- 72,000
- Original Language
- English
- Alternate Titles
- None
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 15 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)
- 261st on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 349th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels (TIME Magazine)
- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers (Parade)
- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (1,000 Books to Read Before You Die(Book))
- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 (The Modern Library (Book))
- A Response to David Handlin’s “One Hundred Best American Novels” (The American Scholar)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- 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)
- How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Reading List (Thomas C. Foster)