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 406th greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 1975
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 250-350
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(4.2)
- Alternate Titles
- None
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 22 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)
- 15th on PEOPLE Picks the Best Books From the 1970s (PEOPLE Magazine)
- 86th on The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels (Modern Library)
- 88th on The 100 Best Novels Of All Time In English (The Guardian)
- 89th on Books Of The Century (Library Journal)
- 215th on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (1,000 Books to Read Before You Die(Book))
- 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)
- 50 Books to (Re-)Read at 50 (nextavenue)
- A Response to David Handlin’s “One Hundred Best American Novels” (The American Scholar)
- Daniel S. Burt's Recommended Historical Novels (What Historical Novel Do I Read Next? by Daniel S. Burt (1997))
- Everything You Should Read without Being a Library Rat (Book by Luiz Carlos Lisboa)
- Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher (Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher)
- How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Reading List (Thomas C. Foster)
- Maaza Mengiste's Book Choices from "The Writer's Library" (The Writer's Library: The Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives (Book))
- National Book Critics Circle Award - Fiction (National Book Critics Circle)
- The 100 Greatest American Novels, 1893 – 1993 (Jeff O'Neal at Bookriot.com)
- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 (The Modern Library (Book))
- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels (TIME Magazine)
- Top 100 Books (Lincoln Journal Star)