Thomas Wolfe: The Complete Works

by Thomas Wolfe

"Thomas The Complete Works" invites readers on an immersive journey through the profound landscapes of one of America's literary giants. This comprehensive collection includes Wolfe's timeless masterpieces, notably "Look Homeward, Angel" and its sequel, "Of Time and the River." Delve into the intricate tapestry of Wolfe's autobiographical storytelling as he unveils the epic odyssey of Eugene Gant, a character deeply entwined with the author's own experiences. From the small town of Altamont to the vast expanse of time and continents, Wolfe's prose captures the essence of the early 20th century with lyrical precision. This anthology is a literary treasure trove, offering readers the complete spectrum of Wolfe's exploration of identity, longing, and the relentless pursuit of meaning in a world ever-changing.

Genres: Classics, Literature, Fiction

1996 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 26, 2023

About the author

People best know American writer Thomas Clayton Wolfe for his autobiographical novels, including Look Homeward, Angel (1929) and the posthumously published You Can't Go Home Again (1940).

Wolfe wrote four lengthy novels and many short stories, dramatic works and novellas. He mixed highly original, poetic, rhapsodic, and impressionistic prose with autobiographical writing. Wolfe wrote and published books that vividly reflect on American culture and the mores, filtered through his sensitive, sophisticated and hyper-analytical perspective. People widely knew him during his own lifetime.

Wolfe inspired the works of many other authors, including Betty Smith with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Robert Morgan with Gap Creek; Pat Conroy, author of Prince of Tides, said, "My writing career began the instant I finished Look Homeward, Angel." Jack Kerouac idolized Wolfe. Wolfe influenced Ray Bradbury, who included Wolfe as a character in his books.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Johannes J Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The very best by far

No. I have not finished a quarter of this immaculate prose by an unmatched author because i wanted all and every to read this. I did not know it existed else would have read it 60 years ago. If there is one author all should read, this is it. It is not only a story, it is wisdom and philosophy in the best of English. Highly recommended even for your children.

[Alethea Hammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the novels and more

I bought this book for the novels, most especially You Can't Go Home Again. But the bonus is a bunch of really great short stories he had published in Harper's and other magazines. There are some plays as well. I did not like those as much. He wasn't a playwright.

[Sarah Bates · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wolfe was an important writer, so I wanted to read his prose to see how it ranked against Fitzgerald and Hemingway, my favorite authors of that era. I started with Look Homeward Angel but found the narrative difficult to read. I tried twice to get involved, but Wolfe's writing voice rambled leaving me dissatisfied and bored.

[Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the these works are good, interesting, and full of promise. At times the author gets lost in the story, but still they are worth reading.

[Brendan Drury · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Wolfe taught us, 'You just can't go home again. Home changed a whole bunch while you were gone.'