Summer Reading Ragtime by E. L.

Doctorow

Ragtime was published in 1975, and was an instant success: it immediately became a Book of the Month Club selection, and was made into a film by Milos Forman. Says Doctorow of the movie: "It was based on a screenplay by the director and another writer. I suggested some changes, but it was largely their work. Ragtime is a highly polished film, and there are some wonderful scenes in it. I just don't think it has much to do with my book."
When asked in an interview how he came up with the idea for Ragtime, Doctorow, who lives in the house in New Rochelle where some of his main characters live, said that "sitting in his study looking down at the street, he suddenly visualized the people who lived in the house at the time [1906] being visited by Harry Houdiniand the rest of the book is an elaborate expansion upon that moment, and that idea."

Ragtime, then, is a work of historical fiction. Doctorow puts us in a particular American moment, fills his story with fictional and historical characters, and gives them action that might have happened, could have happened, or would have happened had some of these people actually met. To appreciate the novel, we should know a little something about the historical context, and some of the characters involved.
Historical Context The historical moment of the novel is turn of the century America, pre-World War I. It might be useful to know something about the time: ~ The Industrial Revolution reaches its height at this time, with the assembly line serving as something of a symbol of industrial progress. ~ A radical movement begins, challenging the notions of capitalism, gender roles, sexuality, among others. ~ Immigration continues at a rapid pace, changing the "face" of America. ~ In 1897, the Supreme Court finds, in Plessy vs. Ferguson, that "separate but equal" is constitutional, thus perpetuating the institutional mistreatment of African Americans. (Plessy is not repealed until 1954, in Brown vs. the Board of Education.) Characters Historical: You will encounter the following, and others, who are "real life" characters in history. Harry Houdinian entertainer, escape artist, magician Sigmund Freudthe "father of psychotherapy" Carl JungFreud's protg, thought to be even more brilliant than his teacher Emma Goldmanradical, anarchist, feminist who was instrumental in numerous labor strikes, and was jailed several times for participating in demonstrations, inciting riots, protesting capitalism Evelyn Nesbittsocialite Stanford Whiteprominent architect J. P. Morganone of the wealthiest Americans at the time, banker, steel "captain of industry" Henry Fordinventor of the Model A and Model T, cars produced on the assembly line and "affordable" for many Americans Commander Robert Perryexplorer who is credited with being first to reach the North Pole. Matthew HensonAfrican American who accompanied Perry on his expeditions (Recently credited with being first to reach the Pole) Fictional: The story takes place around the lives of three families, which include: Mother, Father, The Little Boy, Grandfather, and Mother's Younger Brothera well-to-do family, living in the New York suburb of New Rochelle Tateh, Mameh and The Little GirlEastern European immigrants, Jewish, working class, socialists Coalhouse Walker, Jr., his fianc Sarah, and their sonCoalhouse is a professional musician whose long courtship of Sarah reveals him to be a man of manners and refinement. *We have borrowed freely from Conversations with E. L. Doctorow, by Christopher D. Morris, in compiling this study guide.