E. L. Doctorow’s Creative Method Evolution

Abstract

Edgar Lawrence Doctorow (1931–2015) is the American prose writer, in the literary heritage of whom one finds 12 novels, 4 of which had screen versions, 3 volumes of short stories and 1 stage drama, an editor and a scientist. The writer provided more than once a self-commentary to his creative works, his interviews became the indispensable source of his works’ understanding. Doctorow consistently wrestled the traditional approach to literature. Many a researcher turned to his literary heritage. The examination of the Doctorow’s creative method evolution was carried out in two stages. First the main characteristic features of the literary works were singled out, later on by means of the comparative method the two main novels “Ragtime” and “Loon’s Lake” correlation from the point of view of the writer’s depiction evolution was carried out. The characteristic features of the novels are violated chronology, combining of reality with the invented, depicting the protagonists at the moment of the greatest changes, different arts genres fusion manifested in style, excessive fascination with the naturalistic details. The novel “Ragtime” is an objective, author’s narration, “Loon Lake” is the monologue of the I-form narrator. In “Ragtime” the prose writer combined the style of “new journalism” with “retro”. “Loon Lake” is an attempt to create the main image, render the inexhaustibility of the plenitude of life. In the novel “Ragtime” literature is melted with music, whereas in “Loon Lake” prose is melted with poetry of vers libre.