One of the most distinguished novelists of the 20th century, E.L. Doctorow (1931-2015) was the recipient of numerous writing awards, including National Book Critics Circle Awards for Ragtime, his best-known novel, which redefined what historical fiction could do, Billy Bathgate, and The March. He was also a recipient of the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for Fiction. Through his fiction he brought whole chapters of America back to life.