Thomas Wolfe

Date of Birth: October 3, 1900

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: September 15, 1938

Biography

Thomas Wolfe was an American novelist of the early 20th century, renowned for his vivid and impressionistic prose. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Wolfe’s works often drew from his own life experiences, exploring themes of ambition, family, and the quest for identity. He is best remembered for his debut novel “Look Homeward, Angel,” which garnered critical acclaim and established him as a significant literary figure. Wolfe’s expansive narratives and complex characters have left a lasting impact on American literature. Despite a relatively short career, his influence continues to be felt, inspiring countless writers and readers alike.

5 Interesting Facts about Thomas Wolfe

1. Thomas Wolfe was over 6 feet 6 inches tall, making him an unusually tall figure among his literary contemporaries.

2. He was a student of the renowned playwright George Pierce Baker at Harvard University, where he honed his writing skills.

3. Wolfe’s manuscripts were famously long; his editor Maxwell Perkins at Scribner’s had to significantly trim down his novels before publication.

4. He wrote the bulk of his novel “Look Homeward, Angel” while living in Brooklyn, New York.

5. Wolfe’s semi-autobiographical novels often featured thinly disguised versions of his own family members and experiences.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Thomas Wolfe

1. “You can’t go back home to your family, back home to your childhood; back home to a young man’s dreams of glory and of fame…”

2. “All things belonging to the earth will never change—the leaf, the blade, the flower, the wind that cries and sleeps and wakes again.”

3. “Make your mistakes, take your chances, look silly, but keep on going.”

4. “A destiny that leads the English to the Dutch is strange enough; but one that leads from Eros to Adonis is stranger still.”

5. “The darkest moment in the history of any young man is when he sits down to plan how to get money without earning it.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Thomas Wolfe did not achieve significant financial success during his lifetime. His highest estimated net worth was modest, as his works gained much more recognition and value posthumously.