Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
“Which of us is not forever a stranger and alone?”
The words belong to Thomas Wolfe, one of America’s most celebrated novelists — a writer whose work captured the people, places and spirit of Asheville, where he was born in 1900.
A contemporary of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, Wolfe earned the admiration of another literary giant, William Faulkner, who called him the most important contemporary writer of his time.
Wolfe’s story began at a boarding house on Spruce Street, operated by his mother, Julia Wolfe. The house was filled with visitors from around the country and beyond, giving the young Wolfe an endless supply of people to observe.
He’s observing everybody. And he was like a sponge,” said Kayla Seay, Thomas Wolfe Memorial site manager.
Over time, the house would become a source of people and experiences that would serve as the raw material for his writings.
His first novel, "Look Homeward, Angel," was published in 1929. The largely autobiographical work brought Wolfe immediate recognition and success.
His fourth and final novel, "You Can’t Go Home Again," was published in 1940, two years after his death.
Wolfe died in 1938 at the age of 37 after contracting tuberculosis meningitis.
In 1998, nearly six decades after Wolfe’s death, the boarding house that inspired so much of his work faced another threat when fire tore through the property. The house, however, survived, and today nearly 90% of the home’s original furnishings and artifacts remain,
For visitors, the house offers more than a glimpse into the life of a famous writer. It provides a window into Asheville more than a century ago.
The Thomas Wolfe Memorial is located in downtown Asheville and is open Tuesday through Saturday. For visitors interested in literature, history or Asheville’s past, the historic home offers a journey into both Wolfe’s life and the city that shaped his remarkable work.
#novelist #history #america250
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WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
“Which of us is not forever a stranger and alone?”
The words belong to Thomas Wolfe, one of America’s most celebrated novelists — a writer whose work captured the people, places and spirit of Asheville, where he was born in 1900.
A contemporary of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, Wolfe earned the admiration of another literary giant, William Faulkner, who called him the most important contemporary writer of his time.
Wolfe’s story began at a boarding house on Spruce Street, operated by his mother, Julia Wolfe. The house was filled with visitors from around the country and beyond, giving the young Wolfe an endless supply of people to observe.
He’s observing everybody. And he was like a sponge,” said Kayla Seay, Thomas Wolfe Memorial site manager.
Over time, the house would become a source of people and experiences that would serve as the raw material for his writings.
His first novel, "Look Homeward, Angel," was published in 1929. The largely autobiographical work brought Wolfe immediate recognition and success.
His fourth and final novel, "You Can’t Go Home Again," was published in 1940, two years after his death.
Wolfe died in 1938 at the age of 37 after contracting tuberculosis meningitis.
In 1998, nearly six decades after Wolfe’s death, the boarding house that inspired so much of his work faced another threat when fire tore through the property. The house, however, survived, and today nearly 90% of the home’s original furnishings and artifacts remain,
For visitors, the house offers more than a glimpse into the life of a famous writer. It provides a window into Asheville more than a century ago.
The Thomas Wolfe Memorial is located in downtown Asheville and is open Tuesday through Saturday. For visitors interested in literature, history or Asheville’s past, the historic home offers a journey into both Wolfe’s life and the city that shaped his remarkable work.
#novelist #history #america250
MORE: wlos.com/news/america-250/america-250-thomas-wolfe-memorial-asheville-novelist-history-childhood-home-downtown-fire-legacy-scott-fitzgerald-ernest-hemingway
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: facebook.com/News13
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
