Obituary

Ragtime author dies at 84 Ragtime author E.L. Doctorow (above) has died in New York. He was 84. His son, Richard Doctorow, confirmed he died at a New York hospital from complications of lung cancer. Doctorow reimagined the American past and applied its lessons to the present and future. He was best known for his panoramic novel of the turn of the 20th century. Published in 1975, Ragtime was later made into a film featuring James Cagney and a Broadway musical. Doctorow also was known for such novels as World’s Fair, Billy Bathgate and The March. He also published short stories, a play and essays.