Many people may know E.L. Doctorow for the musicals and movies his books have inspired. Some, though, prefer the original.
Doctorow, author of such books as "Ragtime," and "Loon Lake," has been awarded the 1998 Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award."Much of his work has come to public attention through the films they've inspired, not by the books themselves," said James Watson, chairman of the selection committee.
The award is given by the Tulsa (Okla.) Library Trust to writers not for any individual work, but for their collective writings. Past winners include Neil Simon, John Updike, Norman Mailer and Ray Bradbury.
Doctorow, who was born in 1931 and teaches English at New York University, will receive his $20,000 prize on Dec. 4.