E.L. Doctorow (1931-2015) Tribute List
Edgar Lawrence Doctorow, the acclaimed novelist, died on July 21, 2015 at the age of 84. Doctorow is best known as a novelist who played with historical events in books like Ragtime and The Book of Daniel.
Doctorow was never afraid to paint on a big canvas or wrestle with big themes, and there's a wonderful sense of risk in his best work—reading it, you feel as if the next step is in doubt for everyone, even the author, even if you know the historical events being referenced. Doctorow enshrined the idea that history was once life, and because of this, that it was just as scary, and potentially hopeful, as tomorrow. Here are 12 quotes from the work of E.L. Doctorow, as well as a few words used to describe him.