Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow - 1975

New York: Random House, 1975. Hardcover. Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. Doctorow's breakthrough book. Basis for both the film and later Broadway musical. A surprisingly scarce title in fine condition. Well known work of historical fiction mainly set in the New York City area from 1902 until 1912 and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award. Jacket design by Paul Bacon. "The political novel of our age . . . the best work of its kind" (New Republic). Listed by The Modern Library as one of the 100 greatest novels of the twentieth century. Basis for the 1981 film directed by Milos Forman, featuring the final film appearances of James Cagney and Pat O'Brien, and early appearances, in small parts, by Jeff Daniels, Fran Drescher, Samuel L. Jackson, Ethan Phillips, and John Ratzenberger. The music score was composed by Randy Newman. The film was nominated for eight Oscars.