E. L. Doctorow

Date of Birth: January 6, 1931

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: July 21, 2015

Biography

Edgar Lawrence Doctorow, known as E. L. Doctorow, was an American novelist, editor, and professor, renowned for his works of historical fiction. Born in New York City, Doctorow’s career spanned over five decades, during which he produced several critically acclaimed novels. His most famous books include “Ragtime,” “Billy Bathgate,” and “The March,” which blend fictional characters and events with real historical figures and settings. Doctorow’s writing is characterized by its rich narrative style and deep engagement with American history and social issues. Doctorow attended Kenyon College and later pursued graduate studies at Columbia University. He began his career as a script reader for a film company, which influenced his narrative techniques. Later, he worked as an editor at New American Library and Dial Press. His first novel “Welcome to Hard Times” was published in 1960. However, it was “Ragtime” (1975) that catapulted him to literary fame, receiving widespread acclaim and being adapted into a Broadway musical and a film. Doctorow’s works often explore themes of identity, power, and the American experience. He received numerous awards throughout his career, including the National Book Award, the PEN/Faulkner Award, and the National Humanities Medal. Doctorow also taught at several universities, including Sarah Lawrence College and New York University.

5 Interesting Facts about E. L. Doctorow

1. E. L. Doctorow was named after Edgar Allan Poe, reflecting his parents’ love for literature.

2. “Ragtime” was included in the Modern Library’s list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.

3. Doctorow was known for his meticulous research, often spending years gathering details before writing his novels.

4. He received the presidentially-conferred National Humanities Medal in 1998.

5. Doctorow’s novel “The March” won the National Book Critics Circle Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from E. L. Doctorow

1. “Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.”

2. “Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader—not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.”

3. “History is the present. That’s why every generation writes it anew. But what most people think of as history is its end product, myth.”

4. “Books are acts of composition: you compose them. You make music: the music is called fiction.”

5. “The historian will tell you what happened. The novelist will tell you what it felt like.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, E. L. Doctorow’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million.

Children

E. L. Doctorow had three children: Richard Doctorow, a construction supervisor; Caroline Doctorow, a singer-songwriter; and Jenny Doctorow, a writer and editor.