After completing his masterpiece the Book of Daniel, E.L. Doctorow sat around his home in New Rochelle and contemplated what to write next; the answer Ragtime. This 1975 novel is a work of historical fiction. It chronicles the lives of three American families in which the first family are upper class WASP's living in New Rochelle. The book was made into a film in 1981 staring Samuel Jackson, Jeff Daniels and Fran Drescher to name a few. Nominated for eight Oscars Ragtime, went home empty handed, just like Jack Nicholson who had a small part in the film, but did not have his name in the credits.
E.L. Doctorow did it again with Billy Bathgate. This 1989 novel was made into a film in 1991. Staring Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman and Bruce Willis. The story is told from the perspective of fifteen year old Billy Bathgate. Billy becomes an errand boy for mobster Dutch Shultz. He witnesses how sinister Dutch and the world of organized crime is first hand and begins to contemplate what to do next. You have to watch to find out how he managed his personal dilemma, but when you watch, don't say you heard it from me. If you do, you will be swimming with the classics.
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