Humbert Wolfe was born in Milan, Italy, and came from a Jewish family background,[1] his father, Martin Wolff, being of German descent and his mother, Consuela, née Terraccini, Italian.

[citation needed] His career was in the Civil Service, beginning in the Board of Trade and then in the Ministry of Labour.

Wolfe said in an interview with Twentieth Century Authors that he was "of no political creed, except that his general view is that money and its possessors should be abolished.

Though his works are little read today, the following epigram from The Uncelestial City continues to be widely known and quoted: You cannot hope to bribe or twist, thank God!

[4] In 2014–2015, five busts of the poet were created and sited by sculptor Anthony Padgett to mark the 75th anniversary of Wolfe's death.