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.