Thomas Clayton Wolfe - (1900-1938)
|
I. Biography
Thomas Wolfe was born October 3, 1900, in Asheville, North Carolina. Wolfe's mother's name was Julia. She was a successful Real Estate speculator. His father was a successful tombstone maker named William Oliver Wolfe. Thomas Wolfe came from a very large family. He was one of eight children in his family; two had died in early childhood. He was very close to his brother Benjamin Wolfe.
Wolfe attended a private school in Asheville after age eleven. In the private school, he received personal attention and encouragement. Later, he got his education at the University of North Carolina and graduated at age 20. He attended Harvard for three to complete his Master of Arts degree in Literature. He stayed an extra year to get more experience in his workshop
Wolfe wrote his first novel, Look Homeward Angel in 1929, just nine years before his death. He died on September 15, 1938 when he contracted Tuberculosis and never made it through surgery.
II. Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is located in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The population of Asheville is 66,700. Asheville City was incorporated in 1797. Asheville is known for its pleasant year round climate. Spring and fall are spectacular seasons to the changing of colors and wild flowers. Asheville has very moderate winters and beautiful summers. The people of Asheville very much enjoy a rich craft and folk heritage.
There are two great and wonderful National Forests that are known for the bass and trout fishing. The great Smokey Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains offer unlimited recreational splendor and opportunities.
This essay was submitted by a student of Leslie Andres, a teacher at Lake Norman Charter School in Huntersville, North Carolina.