Thomas Wolfe

Easton Press Thomas Wolfe books

Look Homeward Angel - 1992

4 volume set including titles:

You Can't Go Home Again

The Web and The Rock

Look Homeward Angel

Of Time and The River

Franklin Library Thomas Wolfe books

Look Homeward Angel - 100 Greatest Masterpieces of American Literature - 1977
From Death to Morning - Collected Stories of the World's Greatest Writers - 1979
Look Homeward Angel - 20th Century's Greatest Books - 1981

Author Thomas Wolfe

Born on October 3, 1900, in Asheville, North Carolina, Thomas Clayton Wolfe emerged as one of America's most influential novelists of the early 20th century. His towering stature in American literature stemmed from his epic novels, which captured the tumult and grandeur of the human experience with an unmatched intensity. Growing up in the picturesque landscapes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Wolfe was deeply influenced by his surroundings. His father, a stonecutter, instilled in him a love for literature and learning, fostering his early passion for storytelling. This upbringing imbued Wolfe with a profound sense of place and an acute sensitivity to the nuances of human relationships. In 1916, Wolfe left Asheville to pursue his education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His intellectual curiosity and literary talents quickly became evident, earning him acclaim among his peers and professors. After graduating, he pursued further studies at Harvard University, where he studied under the tutelage of renowned literary scholar and mentor, George Pierce Baker. It was at Harvard where Wolfe's literary ambitions began to take shape. Under Baker's guidance, he honed his craft, experimenting with narrative forms and delving into the complexities of human psychology. Wolfe's voracious appetite for life and his keen observational skills provided him with an abundance of material for his writing.

In 1929, Wolfe burst onto the literary scene with the publication of his debut novel, Look Homeward, Angel. A sprawling epic that drew heavily from his own experiences growing up in Asheville, the novel garnered widespread acclaim for its lyrical prose and vivid characterizations. Critics hailed Wolfe as a literary prodigy, and Look Homeward, Angel quickly established him as a leading voice in American letters. Over the next decade, Wolfe continued to produce a series of ambitious novels, including Of Time and the River (1935) and You Can't Go Home Again (1940). These works further solidified his reputation as a master storyteller, capturing the zeitgeist of an era marked by rapid social and cultural change.

Despite his literary success, Wolfe's personal life was marked by turmoil and inner conflict. His larger-than-life persona and insatiable thirst for experience often led him down tumultuous paths, straining his relationships with friends and loved ones. Yet, through it all, Wolfe remained fiercely dedicated to his craft, channeling his tumultuous experiences into his writing with unbridled passion and intensity. Tragically, Wolfe's life was cut short by illness, and he passed away on September 15, 1938, at the age of 37. However, his literary legacy endures, immortalized in the pages of his novels, which continue to captivate readers with their unflinching portrayal of the human condition. Thomas Wolfe's indelible mark on American literature serves as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the boundless depths of the human imagination.