“Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as fear as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” – E. L. Doctorow
About E. L. Doctorow
Edgar Lawrence “E. L.” Doctorow (January 6, 1931 – July 21, 2015) was an American novelist, editor, and professor, best known internationally for his works of historical fiction. He has been described as one of the most important American novelists of the 20th century.
He wrote twelve novels, three volumes of short fiction and a stage drama. They included the award-winning novels Ragtime (1975), Billy Bathgate (1989), and The March (2005). These, like many of his other works, placed fictional characters in recognizable historical contexts, with known historical figures, and often used different narrative styles. His stories were recognized for their originality and versatility, and Doctorow was praised for his audacity and imagination.
A number of Doctorow’s novels were also adapted for the screen.
Doctorow was the recipient of numerous writing awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award for Ragtime, National Book Critics Circle Award for Billy Bathgate, National Book Critics Circle Award for The March, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for Fiction. Former President Barack Obama called him “one of America’s greatest novelists”.
He died of lung cancer on July 21, 2015, aged 84, in Manhattan.
(Source – Wikipedia)