When authors refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.
Literary and Philosophical References
- Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie (4.6)
- Molly Elliot Seawell, The Ladies Battle (14.4)
- Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Birthmark (19.3)
- Anonymous, The Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosencrutz (20.9)
- Giordano Bruno (20.9)
- Franklin Novelty Co., An Eastern Fakir's Guide to Wisdom (20.14)
Historical References
Historical figures show up as often in Ragtime as sunburns at a music festival, so we're citing first mention only.
- Teddy Roosevelt (1.1)
- Winslow Homer (1.4)
- Harry Houdini (1.4)
- Robert Peary, explorer (1.6)
- Stanford White (1.1)
- Evelyn Nesbit (1.1)
- Jacob Riis (2.5)
- Sigmund Freud (6.1)
- Emma Goldman (8.1)
- Mathew Henson (10.1)
- William Howard Taft (11.1)
- J.P. Morgan (11.1)
- Marilyn Monroe (11.2)
- Archduke Franz Ferdinand (13.8)
- Henry Ford (18.1)
- Emiliano Zapata (22.5)
- William McKinley (22.8)
- William James (29.1)
- John McGraw (30.3)
- Booker T. Washington (36.7)
- Pancho Villa (40.4)
- Woodrow Wilson (40.9)
Pop Culture References
- Mamzelle Champagne, musical (2.7)
- Frederic Chopin, The Minute Waltz (10.1)
- John McCormack, I Hear You Calling Me, song (14.1)
- Wild West Weekly, magazine (15.1)
- Scott Joplin, Wall Street Rag (21.8)
- Scott Joplin, Maple Leaf Rag (21.9)
- Carrie Jacobs Band (21.9)
- Mother Earth, magazine (22.3)
- Around the World in 80 Days (34.8)
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (34.8)
- Our Gang, film series not mentioned by name (40.25)