Summary
Published in 1929, Look Homeward, Angel marked the literary debut of Thomas Wolfe and cemented his place among America’s great Southern writers. This largely autobiographical coming-of-age story follows Eugene Gant as he navigates life in the fictional town of Altamont, Catawba—a thinly veiled version of Wolfe's hometown, Asheville, North Carolina. The novel's raw emotional power and vivid prose style earned it immediate acclaim.
Plot
Look Homeward, Angel follows the life of Eugene Gant, from his birth to age 19, in the fictional town of Altamont, Catawba. The novel opens with Eugene's father, Oliver Gant, an alcoholic stonecutter who remarries and starts a family after his first marriage ends in tragedy. Eugene is born into this tumultuous household, forming a special bond with his father despite Oliver's ongoing struggle with alcohol.
As Eugene grows, he shows a keen intelligence and love for books, excelling in school despite clashes with teachers. He wins a writing contest and attends the prestigious Altamont Fitting School, followed by the University of North Carolina. At UNC, Eugene becomes involved in various academic pursuits, including editing the school newspaper and literary magazines. During a summer break, he falls in love with Laura James, a 21-year-old tenant at his mother's boarding house, but is heartbroken when she reveals her engagement to another man.
The novel culminates with Eugene completing his studies at UNC and deciding to pursue graduate studies at Harvard, despite his mother's pleas for him to stay in Altamont. Eugene feels compelled to follow his destiny beyond the confines of his small mountain town, setting the stage for his departure and the next phase of his life.
Themes
• Coming of age and self-discovery
• Family dynamics and dysfunction
• Struggle against small-town limitations
• Pursuit of artistic ambition
• Impact of alcoholism and illness
• Search for personal identity
• Clash between tradition and modernity
Setting
Set in the early 20th century, Thomas Wolfe's Look Homeward, Angel unfolds against the backdrop of a rapidly changing America. The novel primarily takes place in the fictional town of Altamont, Catawba, a thinly veiled representation of Wolfe's hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. This setting provides a vivid snapshot of life in the American South during a time of significant social and economic transformation.
The broader geographical context of the novel encompasses the Appalachian region of the southeastern United States. Wolfe's detailed descriptions of the mountainous landscape and the changing seasons create a rich, immersive environment that serves as more than just a backdrop for the story. The author's deep connection to his native region is evident in his portrayal of Altamont's streets, buildings, and natural surroundings.
Within this larger setting, several specific locations play crucial roles in the narrative. These include the Gant family home, the Dixieland boarding house run by Eugene's mother, and the stone carving shop owned by Eugene's father. The University of North Carolina, where Eugene studies, also features prominently in the latter part of the novel. These places serve as stages for the protagonist's coming-of-age journey, reflecting the cultural and social norms of the era while also highlighting the tensions between small-town life and the protagonist's yearning for a broader world.
Characters
• Eugene Gant: The protagonist, largely based on the author. A sensitive and intelligent young man coming of age in early 20th-century North Carolina.
• Oliver Gant: Eugene's father, a stonecutter with a passion for literature who struggles with alcoholism. A complex, larger-than-life figure in the family.
• Eliza Gant: Eugene's mother, a strong-willed woman who runs a boarding house. She is practical and business-minded, often at odds with her husband's romantic nature.
• Ben Gant: Eugene's older brother, a gentle and brooding figure who looks out for Eugene. He forms a close bond with his younger brother.
• Helen Gant: Eugene's sister, who helps manage the family's affairs and often mediates family conflicts.
• Luke Gant: Eugene's older brother, described as a hustler and conman.
• Steve Gant: The oldest Gant son, an enterprising but boastful figure.
• Laura James: A 21-year-old tenant at Eliza's boarding house with whom Eugene falls in love during a summer break from college.
• John Dorsey Leonard: The principal at Altamont Fitting School who takes an interest in Eugene's education.
• Margaret Leonard: John's wife, who encourages Eugene's love for poetry and ancient drama.
• Vergil Weldon: Eugene's English professor and mentor at the University of North Carolina, who encourages him to apply to Harvard for graduate studies.
Quick facts
• Look Homeward, Angel is a largely autobiographical novel, with the main character, Eugene Gant, based on Thomas Wolfe himself.
• Look Homeward, Angel was Wolfe's first novel, published when he was just 29 years old.
• The novel's title comes from a line in John Milton's poem “Lycidas."
• Editor Maxwell Perkins cut about 60,000 words from Wolfe's original manuscript before publication.
• A restored version of the original uncut manuscript was published in 2000 under Wolfe’s original working title, O Lost.
• The fictional town of Altamont in the novel is based on Wolfe's hometown of Asheville, North Carolina.
• Wolfe's detailed descriptions of Altamont/Asheville have made the book a popular literary pilgrimage destination for fans.
• The novel’s publication strained Wolfe's relationships with many people in his hometown who recognized themselves in its pages.
• In 1957, playwright Ketti Frings adapted the novel into a successful Broadway play, which won both a Pulitzer Prize and a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award.
About the author
Thomas Clayton Wolfe (1900-1938) was a major American novelist of the early 20th century, best known for his autobiographical novels, Look Homeward, Angel (1929) and You Can't Go Home Again (1940). Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Wolfe drew heavily on his childhood experiences in his hometown for his vivid, poetic prose. He is considered one of the most important writers of the Southern Renaissance alongside William Faulkner.
Wolfe's first novel Look Homeward, Angel was a critical and commercial success, though it caused controversy in his hometown due to its thinly veiled portrayals of local residents. His follow-up Of Time and the River (1935) was also well-received. Now widely recognized for his experimentation with literary forms and lyrical, rhapsodic prose style, Wolfe had a significant influence on many later writers, including Jack Kerouac, Ray Bradbury, and Pat Conroy. His childhood home in Asheville is now a historic landmark and museum. The Thomas Wolfe Society promotes study of his life and works through an annual journal and literary awards.
