Best Selling Books by Thomas Wolfe

These fifty-eight stories make up the most thorough collection of Thomas Wolfe''s short fiction to date, spanning the breadth of the author''s career, from the uninhibited young writer who penned "The Train and the City" to his mature, sobering account of a terrible lynching in "The Child by Tiger". Thirty-five of these stories have never before been collected. Lightning Print On Demand Title

Grover Gant, a young boy who died of typhoid fever at the turn of the century, is portrayed through the eyes of family members

In "The Web and the Rock," Thomas Wolfe crafts a sprawling narrative that delves into the intricacies of human experience, identity, and the struggle for meaning within the confines of society and family. The novel is marked by Wolfe''s signature lyrical prose, rich in metaphor and philosophical introspection. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century America, it explores the protagonist''s journey through the complexities of life, love, and the pursuit of artistic ambition, serving as a companion to his earlier work, "Look Homeward, Angel." With its exploration of the interconnections between personal and collective narratives, the book reveals Wolfe''s engagement with existential themes and the human condition. Thomas Wolfe, born in 1900 in Asheville, North Carolina, was profoundly influenced by his Southern upbringing and the intricacies of American life. Wolfe''s deep concern with artistic expression and his own struggles with identity and belonging shaped his narrative approach. His semi-autobiographical style allows readers to witness the tension between the individual spirit and societal constraints, forged through his experiences in both rural and urban America, which provided a rich tapestry for his complex characters and vivid settings. This novel is a masterclass in American literature, appealing to readers who appreciate lyrical prose intertwined with deep philosophical inquiry. Wolfe invites readers to contemplate their own places within the web of society while navigating the rocks that define existential challenges. "The Web and the Rock" is not just a story; it''s an exploration of consciousness and a testament to Wolfe''s enduring legacy as a passionate chronicler of the human heart.

In ''You Can''t Go Home Again,'' Thomas Wolfe explores the theme of alienation and the impossibility of returning to one''s roots after the passage of time and personal transformation. Set against the backdrop of 1930s America, Wolfe''s narrative combines lyrical prose with a modernist structure, reflecting the tumult of a changing society. The novel follows the journey of George Webber, a writer who grapples with his identity and the subjective nature of home and belonging, revealing the deep emotional undercurrents associated with nostalgia. Wolfe''s vivid imagery and stream-of-consciousness style evoke a profound introspection, situating the work within the broader context of post-war disillusionment and the Humanist literary movement. Wolfe, a prominent figure in early 20th-century American literature, was influenced by his own tumultuous experiences of displacement and societal change while living in various cities, which informed his poignant observations on life. His semi-autobiographical approach in ''You Can''t Go Home Again'' is a reflection of Wolfe''s ruminations on his own inability to reconcile his past with his evolving present, culminating in a narrative that is as personal as it is universal. This book invites readers to reflect on their own connections to home and identity, making it essential for those interested in modernist literature and the complexities of human experience. Wolfe''s evocative language and profound themes resonate deeply, urging readers to confront their own paradoxes of belonging and the inevitable changes that life brings.

Embark on an unforgettable literary journey with "Look Homeward, Angel" by Thomas Wolfe, a timeless masterpiece that delves into the complexities of family, identity, and the search for belonging. Follow the compelling story of Eugene Gant as he navigates the tumultuous landscape of early 20th-century America, grappling with the challenges of adolescence and the weight of his familial legacy. Set against the backdrop of a small Southern town, this epic novel captures the essence of a bygone era while exploring universal themes that resonate with readers of all generations. Through Wolfe''s richly descriptive prose and profound insight into the human condition, "Look Homeward, Angel" offers a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the pursuit of one''s dreams. As Eugene embarks on a quest for self-discovery, readers are drawn into a world filled with vivid characters and evocative imagery, where every page is a revelation. The novel''s overall tone is one of introspection and introspection, as Eugene grapples with his own desires and ambitions against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world. Themes of nostalgia, longing, and the passage of time weave together to create a tapestry of emotion that lingers long after the final page is turned. "Look Homeward, Angel" has earned widespread acclaim since its publication, with critics praising Wolfe''s lyrical prose and profound insights into the human condition. Its enduring popularity speaks to its status as a classic of American literature, beloved by readers for generations. Whether you''re a fan of coming-of-age tales, Southern fiction, or literary classics, "Look Homeward, Angel" offers a compelling and immersive reading experience that will stay with you long after you''ve finished the final chapter. Don''t miss your chance to discover this timeless masterpiece for yourself. Grab your copy now and prepare to be transported to a world of beauty, passion, and profound insight.

Beyond Love and Loyalty: The Letters of Thomas Wolfe and Elizabeth Nowell, Together with ''no More Rivers, '' a Story By Thomas Wolf

This wonderful and compelling collection of stories and character sketches contains some of the finest Wolfe ever wrote.

Chronicles the maturing of Wolfe''s autobiographical character, Eugene Gant, in his desperate search for fulfillment, making his way from small-town North Carolina to the wider world of Harvard University, New York City, and Europe.

"The Mountains, a product of Wolfe''s dramatic apprenticeship, constitutes the novelist''s earliest achieved writing on a large scale. Begun while he was still in Chapel Hill, the one-act version was completed and performed in Cambridge in 1921, the reshaped into full-length form late [by early spring 1922]. Though neither play was successful, both served as valuable exercises toward the author''s eventual ripening as a writer of fiction, and the longer on represents a major evolutionary step for the man who would one day write Look homeward, angel."--Dust jacket

The relationship between Thomas Wolfe and his editor, Maxwell Perkins has been the subject of guesswork and anecdote for 70 years. Scholars have debated Wolfe''s dependence on his editor. This volume of 251 letters should clarify the relationship and set the record straight.

A man journeys from a small town to the big city in this prequel to the classic You Can’t Go Home Again. Shortly before his death in 1938 at a tragically young age, author Thomas Wolfe presented his editor with an epic masterwork that was subsequently published as three separate novels: You Can’t Go Home Again, The Hills Beyond, and The Web and the Rock. The Web and the Root features the three initial sections of the The Web and the Rock, widely considered to be the book’s strongest material. A prequel to You Can’t Go Home Again, with strong autobiographical undertones, it is the story of George Webber’s momentous journey from Libya Falls, North Carolina, to the Golden City of the North—offering vivid, sometimes cutting depictions of rural pleasures and small-town clannishness while exploring boundless urban possibility and the complex, violent undercurrents of the metropolis. “Among his and my contemporaries, I ranked Wolfe first.” —William Faulkner “The only contemporary writer who can be mentioned in the same breath as Dickens and Dostoevsky.” —The New Republic

Sixty-six thousand words were omitted for reasons of propriety and publishing economics, as well as to remove material deemed expendable by Perkins. Published for the first time on October 3, 2000 - the centenary of Wolfe''s birth - O Lost presents the complete text of the novel''s manuscript.".

Edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli and Aldo P. Magi, The Magical Campus collects for the first time Thomas Wolfe''s earliest published work--including poems, plays, short fiction, news articles, and essays--both signed and unsigned, assembled in chronological order.

In 1920 Thomas Wolfe left the South with the strong desire to become a dramatist. To pursue his chosen craft, he enrolled in the Harvard 47 Workshop, at that time the most renowned in the nation. At first he wrote plays about Appalachian society and the Civil War. But it was not until Wolfe turned to the modern South—inspired by a disturbing return to his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina—that his genius awoke. There he found the material he would work into the best of his three full-length plays written at Harvard, the material that in the next decade would be recast into the novels that would make him famous. This is the first book publication of Welcome to Our City, Thomas Wolfe’s play in ten scenes of a modern South ruled by liars and real estate agents, overrun with boosterism, and dedicated to greed. This sprawling, fiery work has lain dormant among Wolfe’s papers for over fifty years, abandoned by its author after an unsuccessful attempt to revise and shorten it for a New York Theatre Guild production. For this edition, Richard S. Kennedy has reassembled a full performance text of the workshop version presented at Harvard in 1923—a production that involved forty-five cast members, including over thirty speaking parts, required seven stage changes, and lasted over three and a half hours in performance. The action of Welcome to Our City centers on a scheme of the town fathers and real estate promoters of Altamont, a small southern city, to snatch up all the property in a centrally located black district, evict the tenants, tear down their houses and shops, and build a new white residential section in its place. When the blacks, under the angry leadership of a strong-willed doctor, resist eviction, a race riot breaks out—shattering both the precarious social balance of the city and the “progressive” dreams of Altamont’s boosters. Building on this plot, Wolfe guides his audience through the back rooms, stately homes, ans shanty towns of Altamont, contrasting tradition-bound southern characters with a new breed of life drawn from the vast menagerie of 1920s Main Street America: fact-spouting yes-men, hypocritical religious leaders, anti-intellectual professors, provincial country club matrons, and politicians inauthentic from their heads to their feet. Welcome to Our City is not merely an exhibit in the artistic development of a future novelist. Wolfe used the dramatic form inventively and with considerable inspiration to expose the culture of greed that he saw spreading around him and to caricature the men who, he feared, would usher in an age of mediocrity across America. Emotionally gripping and mockingly satiric, Welcome to Our City captures the festering social climate of the 1920s in a vision of life that is uncomfortably relevant to our own times.

Selections from the novels of Thomas Wolfe chosen for their poetic character.

In "Thomas Wolfe: Of Time and the River, You Can''t Go Home Again & Look Homeward, Angel," readers are immersed in Wolfe''s rich tapestry of semi-autobiographical narratives that explore profound themes of nostalgia, identity, and the American experience. The literary style is characterized by its lyrical prose, vivid imagery, and introspective depth, drawing readers into the lives of his characters as they grapple with the passage of time and the relentless pull of their origins. Wolfe''s work exemplifies the modernist movement, challenging conventional narrative structures while inviting readers to reflect on their own emotional landscapes. Thomas Wolfe, a Southern writer born in Asheville, North Carolina, draws heavily from his own tumultuous youth and the complexities of familial bonds, which profoundly influenced his narrative choices. His keen observations of the world around him, coupled with his desire to explore the human condition, laid the groundwork for the ambitious thematic aspirations seen in these novels. Wolfe''s background and experiences infuse his writing with authenticity, allowing readers to connect deeply with the existential queries he poses. This collection is a compelling journey for readers who appreciate lyrical storytelling intertwined with philosophical musings. It is particularly recommended for those who seek to understand the transformative power of place and memory in shaping human experiences. Wolfe''s masterful narratives resonate deeply, making this book an essential addition to the library of anyone interested in American literature.

In "The Greatest Works of Thomas Wolfe," readers are invited to explore the intricate tapestry of American life as depicted through Wolfe''s rich and evocative prose. This anthology showcases Wolfe''s signature literary style—lyrical, expansive, and deeply introspective—creating vivid portraits of his characters and their emotional landscapes. From the fervent embrace of youth in "Look Homeward, Angel" to the disillusionment of adulthood in "Of Time and the River," Wolfe''s works emerge as profound reflections on identity and human experience set against the backdrop of early 20th-century America. This compilation allows readers to delve into the complexities of Wolfe''s narrative techniques, characterized by stream-of-consciousness and a tendency toward poetic language, capturing the essence of an era marked by change and turbulence. Thomas Wolfe, a seminal figure in American literature, drew inspiration from his own experiences in post-World War I America. Known for his autobiographical approach, Wolfe''s works resonate with themes of belonging, nostalgia, and the search for meaning. His upbringing in Asheville, North Carolina, infused his writing with a sense of place and a longing for connection. Wolfe''s struggles with the constraints of traditional narrative forms propelled him into innovative literary territory, making his voice both unique and enduring. For readers seeking a profound exploration of the American psyche, "The Greatest Works of Thomas Wolfe" serves as an essential introduction to one of the 20th century''s most influential writers. Enthusiasts of modernist literature and those interested in the evolution of narrative form will find Wolfe''s ability to weave complex themes into an engaging tapestry of life both enlightening and captivating. This anthology is a vital contribution to understanding the literary heritage from which contemporary American fiction emerges.

Travel diary of Thomas Wolfe''s western U.S. journey in the late 1930s.

An anthology of Thomas Wolfe''s short stories, novel excerpts, and plays illuminating the Civil War This collection of Thomas Wolfe''s writings demonstrates the centrality of the Civil War to Wolfe''s literary concerns and identity. From Look Homeward, Angel to The Hill Beyond and The Web and the Rock, Wolfe perpetually returned to the themes of loss, dissolution, sorrow, and romance engendered in the minds of many southerners by the Civil War and its lingering aftermath. His characters reflect time and again on Civil War heroes and dwell on ghostlike memories handed down by their mothers, fathers, and grandfathers. Wolfe and his protagonists compare their contemporary southern landscape to visions they have conjured of its appearance before and during the war, thereby merging the past with the present in an intense way. Ultimately, Wolfe''s prose style--incantatory and rhapsodic--is designed to evoke the national tragedy on an emotional level. Selections of Wolfe''s writings in this collection include short stories ("Chickamauga," "Four Lost Men," "The Plumed Knight"), excerpts from his novels (O Lost, the restored version of Look Homeward, Angel, The Hills Beyond, and Of Time and the River) and a play, Mannerhouse, edited and introduced by David Madden. Madden, who makes the provocative claim that everything a southern writer writes derives from the Civil War experience, also highlights many issues essential to understanding Wolfe''s absorption with the Civil War.

A legendary author on par with William Faulkner and Flannery O''Connor, Thomas Wolfe published Look Homeward, Angel, his first novel, about a young man''s burning desire to leave his small town and tumultuous family in search of a better life, in 1929. It gave the world proof of his genius and launched a powerful legacy.The novel follows the trajectory of Eugene Gant, a brilliant and restless young man whose wanderlust and passion shape his adolescent years in rural North Carolina. Wolfe said that Look Homeward, Angel is "a book made out of my life," and his largely autobiographical story about the quest for a greater intellectual life has resonated with and influenced generations of readers, including some of today''s most important novelists. Rich with lyrical prose and vivid characterizations, this twentieth-century American classic will capture the hearts and imaginations of every reader.

"Poetic passages from Wolfe''s prose, printed as free verse".

This is the never-before-published extended version of Wolfe''s short story in memory of his father.""The Four Lost Men"" is the first publication of the long version of Wolfe''s story of familial and national reflection set during World War I. Wolfe supplies a moving portrait of his dying father, as well as a rich mediation on American history and ambitions on the verge of America''s entry into a broadening global conflict. Discussion of the title characters - Presidents Garfield, Arthur, Harrison, and Hayes - provides opportunity for assessment of the mood and promise of the nation, as well as reflection on the obstacles that had obscured paths toward untapped American potential. Garfield, Arthur, Harrison, and Hayes, the four Republican presidents who followed Grant during the Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction eras, were all Civil War generals and self-made men, though none experienced a particularly distinguished term in office.These presidents are iconic figures in the stories and political musings of the narrator''s dying father. In his efforts to understand their importance to his father, the teenaged narrator comes to appreciate the act of storytelling that redefines these men in his father''s memory and, in turn, redefines his father in the his own memory.Originally published as a short story of 7,000 words in ""Scribner''s Magazine"" in 1934 - and later abridged by 1,000 words for reissue in the 1935 anthology ""From Death to Morning"" - Wolfe''s expanded tale is published here for the first time in its intended form and full length of some 21,000 words. Editors Arlyn and Matthew J. Bruccoli have employed the same methods to reestablish this text as they used to wide acclaim in their centennial edition of ""O Lost: The Story of a Buried Life"", the unabridged version of Wolfe''s ""Look Homeward, Angel"". The reestablishment of the long version of ""Four Lost Men"" opens an undeveloped area of scholarship into Wolfe''s short fiction and serves as a model for restoring other such works.

"Look Homeward, Angel" is an American coming-of-age story. The novel is considered to be autobiographical and the character of Eugene Gant is generally believed to be a depiction of Thomas Wolfe himself. Set in the fictional town and state of Altamont, Catawba, it covers the span of time from Eugene''s birth to the age of 19. "Of Time and the River" is the continuation of the story of Eugene Gant, detailing his early and mid-twenties. During that time Eugene attends Harvard University, moves to New York City, teaches English at a university there, and travels overseas with his friend Francis Starwick.