Ragtime

E.L. Doctorow's novel //Ragtime// falls into the genre of historical fiction which occurs when a novel makes use of historical events or figures in a fictitious narrative. The author could have told the story of Coalhouse Walker, Jr. without including people and events from history in the work. Instead, however, he chose to include Henry Ford, Emma Goldman, Sigmund Freud, Harry Houdini, Evelyn Nesbit and many others to function as a supporting cast. Discuss how the inclusion of historical people and/or events adds greater depth to the reader's experience and understanding of this novel. Feel free to research background information on the time period and any historical figures with whom you are unfamiliar.