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E.L. Doctorow was not on my radar at all until my local bookstore proprietor sang his praises to me. He mentioned Ragtime as a good place to start. So thanks to Brian from for the excellent suggestion.

The story is set in New Rochelle, New York at the beginning of the 20th century, and mostly focuses on one well-to-do family. Father owns a successful flags and fireworks business. At one point, he sets off on Robert Peary's expedition to reach the North Pole, but on his return, he finds it hard to resume a normal relationship with his wife. Mother's Younger Brother is an unhappy fellow with a flair for designing elaborate fireworks. He becomes obsessed with the socialite Evelyn Nesbit and spends most of his time following her around. One day, the family take in Sarah, a depressed black girl, and her baby. Coalhouse Walker, the child's father, begins to visit every Sunday even though Sarah refuses to see him. The introduction of this young man will have enormous consequences for the household, and the city in general.

One of the things I loved about the book is how real-life figures are seamlessly woven into the narrative. Harry Houdini plays a significant part, and Doctorow does a good job of explaining the motivation behind his death-defying stunts. The financier J.P. Morgan also features, and has a fascinating conversation with Henry Ford. Other cameos include Sigmund Freud, Emiliano Zapata and Archduke Franz Ferdinand - you never know who might show up next.

Ragtime brings 1900s America to life in a spectacular way. It's an evocative, page-turning portrait of an exciting period in US history and I can see why it has been hailed as a classic. I look forward to reading more from the esteemed Mr Doctorow, and I'll be pestering my trusty bookseller for more recommendations.