"World's Fair" by E.L. Doctorow is a novel that follows the life of a young Jewish boy named Edgar Altschuler in New York City during the 1930s. The book is described as a detailed work that captures the sense of time and place vividly, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the mind of a child. The narrative is primarily from Edgar's perspective, with occasional chapters from other characters like his mother, brother, and aunt, adding richness to the story. The book is praised for its masterful handling of the child narrator, presenting a poignant portrayal of growing up in a tumultuous period of American history.

Characters:

Characters are well-developed, particularly Edgar, whose interactions reveal the complexities of his family and environment.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is detailed and immersive, successfully conveying a child's perspective despite occasional verbosity.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative consists of episodic moments from a young boy's life, emphasizing his perspective in a significant historical context.

Setting:

The setting captures the essence of 1930s New York City, highlighting the immigrant experience against a historical backdrop.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow and at times tedious, with major events occurring late in the story.

Startled awake by the ammoniated mists, I am roused in one instant from glutinous sleep to grieving awareness; I have done it again. My soaked thighs sting. I cry, I call Mama, knowing I must endure h...

Notes:

The novel is narrated by Edgar Altschuler, a child growing up in the Bronx during the 1930s.

Edgar is depicted as smart and sensitive, sharing observations that reflect both childhood innocence and adult issues.

The story contrasts the hope of the 1939 World’s Fair with the looming dangers of Hitler and war.

Out of 31 chapters, 27 are from Edgar's perspective; the remaining four alternate views from his mother, brother, and aunt.

The writing includes lengthy, detailed descriptions, which some readers found tedious.

The actual events of the World’s Fair are not mentioned until late in the book, causing disappointment for some.

The book is considered a coming-of-age story, rich in detail about a young Jewish boy's life in NYC.

The narrative captures the mindset of urban children during a tumultuous time in American history.

Readers noted the writing style as beautifully crafted, though occasionally overwritten.

From The Publisher:

Winner of the National Book Award

"Marvelous . . . You get lost in World's Fair as if it were an exotic adventure. You devour it with the avidity usually provoked by a suspense thriller."- The New York Times

Hailed by critics from coast to coast and by readers of all ages, this resonant novel is one of E.L. Doctorow's greatest works of fiction. It is 1939, and even as the rumbles of progress are being felt worldwide, New York City clings to remnants of the past, with horse-drawn wagons, street peddlers, and hurdy-gurdy men still toiling in its streets. For nine-year-old Edgar Altschuler, life is stoopball and radio serials, idolizing Joe DiMaggio, and enduring the conflicts between his realist mother and his dreamer of a father. The forthcoming Word's Fair beckons, an amazing vision of American automation, inventiveness, and prosperity-and Edgar Altschuler responds.

A marvelous work from a master storyteller, World's Fair is a book about a boy who must surrender his innocence to come of age, and a generation that must survive great hardship to reach its future.

Praise for World's Fair

"Something close to magic." - Los Angeles Times

" World's Fair is better than a time capsule; it's an actual slice of a long-ago world, and we emerge from it as dazed as those visitors standing on the corner of the future." -Anne Tyler

"Doctorow has managed to regain the awed perspective of a child in this novel of rare warmth and intimacy. . . . Stony indeed in the heart that cannot be moved by this book." - People

"Fascinating . . . exquisitely rendered details of a lost way of life." - Newsweek

"Wonderful reading." - USA Today

1985

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306 pages

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World's Fair

E.L. Doctorow

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