Though often regarded as a "sentimental tale of growing up," the novel is characterized by a "dark and troubling" depiction of the times, "full of loneliness, death, insanity, alcoholism, family dysfunction, racial segregation and a profoundly cynical view of World War I.

"[1] Rarely named but frequently alluded to, the infectious disease tuberculosis (consumption) casts a "death’s-head shadow" over the novel.

O Lost, the original "author's cut" of Look Homeward, Angel, was reconstructed by scholars Arlyn and Matthew Bruccoli and published in 2000 on the centennial of Wolfe's birth.

Eugene wins a writing contest and is chosen to attend Altamont Fitting School and later, the University of North Carolina.

They form a college prep academy and add Eugene to the student population at the cost of $100 per year, grudgingly provided by Eliza.

After his freshman year, Eugene's summer back in Altamont is marked by him falling in love with a 21-year-old tenant—Laura James—at his mother's boarding house.

Eugene returns to UNC and becomes involved in academic activities including serving as the editor of the school newspaper, the literary magazine, and the poetry publication.

After returning to UNC in the fall of 1918, he is summoned by his mother to come home immediately because his brother Ben is in a near coma with pneumonia; he dies soon after.

Look Homeward, Angel was published in 1929 to generally positive reviews in North America, most praising the author's brilliance and emotional power.

[10][page needed] Despite the novel's enduring popularity, Wolfe's work has since come to be viewed by many literary critics (Harold Bloom and James Wood among them) as undisciplined and largely "formless autobiography".

[11][12] According to Jonathan W. Daniels, those critics wished that "Tom Wolfe's big sprawling powerful pouring prose would have been served in neater packages of sweeter stuff.

The play opened on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre November 28, 1957,[14] and ran for a total of 564 performances, closing on April 4, 1959.

Frings co-wrote the book with the show's lyricist, Peter Udell, whose lyrics were set to music by Gary Geld.

The production featured costumes by Pearl Somner, lighting design by John Gleason and scenery by Ming Cho Lee.

In Season 2, Episode 11 Unidentified Female (December 2, 1995) of Touched by an Angel, the book is part of the story of a young man who returns home after making his own coming-of-age road trip.

In Season 1, Episode 1 of limited series Fellow Travelers (miniseries) (2023), the book is given as a gift from a devoutly religious man to his male lover, during the 1950s Lavender Scare.