51 pages • 1 hour read
City of God
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
272
Novel • Fiction
New York City • 1990s
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
City of God by E. L. Doctorow is a metafictional novel exploring themes of faith, morality, and history through the fragmented writings of Everett, a character loosely based on the author. The plot focuses on the intertwining lives of an Episcopalian priest, a radical Jewish couple, and their collective search for meaning after a stolen cross surfaces. Content includes references to the Holocaust and wartime atrocities.
Contemplative
Mysterious
Emotional
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
City of God by E. L. Doctorow presents a thought-provoking mosaic of philosophical reflections and interconnected narratives. Reviewers praise its ambitious structure and lyrical prose but note its complexity and abstract themes can alienate some readers. Doctorow's stylistic experimentation impresses, though it sometimes sacrifices narrative coherence, making for a challenging but rewarding read.
Who Should Read City of God?
A reader who enjoys intellectually stimulating, genre-blending narratives will appreciate City of God by E. L. Doctorow. Fans of Don DeLillo's Underworld or Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow will find its exploration of existential themes and fragmented storytelling rewarding. Suitable for those who relish complex, thought-provoking literature.
272
Novel • Fiction
New York City • 1990s
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.