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Billy Bathgate

By E. L. Doctorow
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Billy Bathgate by E. L. Doctorow is a compelling tale set in 1930s New York. It follows a street-smart teenager, Billy, who becomes involved with the notorious crime syndicate led by Dutch Schultz. As Billy navigates the dangerous and glamorous underworld, he learns about power, loyalty, and the cost of ambition.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You may enjoy this book if you're drawn to stories of coming-of-age amidst the gritty backdrop of 1930s New York. It blends historical fiction with a compelling narrative about a young boy's entanglement with gangsters, offering both tension and adventure. Perfect for readers who appreciate rich period detail and complex character development.

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Billy Bathgate

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

From the American master of historical fiction, an award-winning coming-of-age story set amidst the gangster underworld of Depression-era New York City.

It's 1930s New York and Billy Bathgate, a fifteen-year-old high-school dropout, has captured the attention of the infamous gangster Dutch Schultz. The product of an East Bronx upbringing by a dysfunctional Catholic mother and an absent Jewish father, Billy is captivated by the world of money, sex, and high society that the charismatic Schultz has to offer.

Yet after being lured into a world of extortion, brutality, and murder, Billy finds he must either adapt to his role in a spiralling criminal enterprise, or remain still and face the consequences.

Written in breath-taking prose and peopled with characters from across the human spectrum, Billy Bathgate is a cornerstone of historical fiction by one of the most important American novelists of the twentieth century.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Billy Bathgate by E. L. Doctorow is celebrated for its rich narrative and vivid portrayal of 1930s New York, offering a compelling look into the world of crime through the eyes of a young protagonist. Readers appreciate the novel's well-developed characters, particularly the intricate depiction of the protagonist’s coming-of-age journey amidst the backdrop of organised crime. Critics often highlight Doctorow’s masterful use of language and storytelling as a standout feature in this work of historical fiction.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241256428

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 August 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 132.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 239g

Pages: 320

Collections

E. L. Doctorow Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books Penguin Classics Series: Penguin Modern Classics

About the Author

E. L. Doctorow (1931-2015) was one of America's most accomplished and acclaimed writers. Winner of the National Book Award, three National Book Critics Circle Awards, two PEN/Faulkner Awards, and the National Humanities Medal, he is the author of twelve novels that explored the drama of American life from the late-19th century to the 21st.

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