About the Book: E.L. Doctorow’s Ragtime is a turn-of-the-century New York historical novel that blends vivid fictional narratives with real figures like Harry Houdini, J.P. Morgan, and Henry Ford. Through the intertwined stories of a Black family, a Jewish immigrant family, and a wealthy white household, the book captures America’s explosive era of innovation, inequality, and cultural transformation. This richly atmospheric classic highlights themes of social change, power, and the vibrant spirit of ragtime.