E. L. Doctorow

Winifred Farrant Bevilacqua (Università Degli Studi di Torino)
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In his essay “The Beliefs of Writers”, E. L. Doctorow voices his conviction that “the large examination of society within a story, the imposition in a novel of public matters on private life, the lighting of history within the individual” are, even today, valid literary aims compatible with maintaining aesthetic rigor and vigor (615-616). Adhering to this “poetics of engagement” has been a constant in his career and his work has been artistically innovative and historically conscious. All of his books, very distinctive in terms of style and tone and in revitalizing the conventions of genre, are characterized by an exploration of American history and myth, a probing of evil and individual responsibility, a quest for meaning in a world where meaning is relative, a concern with…

6809 words

Citation: Farrant Bevilacqua, Winifred. "E. L. Doctorow". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 11 April 2009 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1278, accessed 19 March 2024.]

1278 E. L. Doctorow 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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