Ragtime written by: E.L. Doctorow Presentation by: Quinton Campbell.

Ragtimewritten by: E.L. Doctorow

Presentation by:

Quinton CampbellQuinton Campbell

The Setting of the Novel

Doctorow’s novel of historical fiction is mainly set in New York City from early 1900 until the United States entered into World War 1 in 1917.

Date of Publication

Ragtime was first published in

Historical Figures in the novel

• Harry Houdini

• J.P. Morgan

• Henry Ford

• Emma Goldman• Stanford White• Harry K. Thaw • Evelyn Nesbit• Booker T. Washington

• The novel opens in the year 1902, in the town of New Rochelle, New York, at the house of an upper class family made up of Mother, Father, and the little boy. Mother's younger brother falls in love with the famous Evelyn Nesbit. Her husband, Harry Thaw, has recently been charged with the murder of her ex- husband, Stanford White. Harry Houdini's car breaks in front of the family's house, and he pays them a visit.

An immigrant family, consisting of Mameh, Tateh, and the little girl, live in the Lower East Side in utter poverty. Evelyn Nesbit visits the Lower East Side, where she becomes intrigued with Tateh's daughter, and soon her visits become regular. The little girl becomes ill, and Evelyn cares for her. Mother's Younger Brother begins to follow Evelyn everywhere without her knowledge.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/ragtime/summary.html

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragtime_(novel)

Other Productions

Ragtime has been adapted for a 1981 movie and a 1998 musical.

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