LOOK HOMEWARD, ANGEL (ePub)

Thomas Clayton Wolfe (October 3, 1900 - September 15, 1938) was an American novelist of the early 20th century. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Wolfe's literary prowess became evident at a young age, followed by his attendance at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later at Harvard University where he studied playwriting. Wolfe's highly autobiographical novel, 'Look Homeward, Angel' (1929), is his most famed work, touching upon the universal themes of the human experience through the lens of a young man's coming-of-age story in the American South. Wolfe's writing is marked by its poetic language, extensive descriptions, and a stream-of-consciousness technique that paralleled contemporaries such as James Joyce and Virginia Woolf. The novel's portrayal of family, identity, and the search for a sense of place resonated deeply with readers, securing his position as a noteworthy figure in the American literary canon. Wolfe's career was prolific yet brief; he passed away at the age of 37 from tuberculous meningitis. Despite his short life, Wolfe's oeuvre, including 'Of Time and the River' and 'The Web and the Rock' among others, demonstrated a remarkable capacity to encapsulate the complexities of American life and individual aspiration. His work continues to be studied for its rich narrative style and its introspective exploration of the human condition.