Billy Bathgate facts for kids
Billy Bathgate is a famous novel written in 1989 by E. L. Doctorow. It tells the exciting story of a young boy named Billy. This book won many important awards for its great writing.
Contents
What is Billy Bathgate About?
The story of Billy Bathgate is told through the eyes of Billy "Bathgate" Behan. He is a fifteen-year-old boy living in the 1930s. Billy gets involved with a powerful and well-known figure named Dutch Schultz.
Who is E. L. Doctorow?
E. L. Doctorow was a very respected American writer. He was born in New York City in 1931. Doctorow was known for his historical novels. These books often mixed real events and people with fictional characters. He wrote many popular books during his career.
Awards and Recognition
Billy Bathgate received many top honors for its writing. It won the 1989 National Book Critics Circle award for fiction. The book also earned the 1990 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. Another major win was the 1990 William Dean Howells Medal. It was also a finalist for the 1990 Pulitzer Prize and the 1989 National Book Award. These awards show how highly critics and readers thought of the novel.
The Main Character: Billy Behan
Billy "Bathgate" Behan is the main character and narrator of the story. He is a fifteen-year-old boy. Billy starts out doing small jobs for Dutch Schultz. Over time, he becomes like a trusted helper and even a son figure to Schultz. The story follows Billy's adventures and what he learns from this unusual experience.
The World of the Story
The novel is set in New York City during the 1930s. This was a time of big changes in America. The story explores the world of powerful figures like Dutch Schultz. It shows how a young boy like Billy might get drawn into such a world. The book gives readers a look into a specific time in American history.
