Sad news from the world of literature today, as a true giant of American letters has passed away.
Author and journalist Tom Wolfe died of complications from pneumonia in a New York hospital last night at the age of 87.
His passing was confirmed this morning by his longtime agent, Lynn Nesbitt.
Wolfe’s contributions to the literary landscape of the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s cannot be overstated.
With trailblazing works such as The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and The Right Stuff, Wolfe helped to usher in the so-called “New Journalism” that helped to define the American counterculture of the late 20th century.
With bestselling novels such as Bonfire of the Vanities and A Man In Full, Wolfe demonstrated an inimitable for using fiction to address the shifting values and social trends of an era.
Wolfe’s unique voice proved tremendously influential, not only in its era but across generations.
His impact can be seen in the work of such literary and journalistic luminaries as Truman Capote, Norman Mailer, and Hunter S. Thompson.
“He is not just an American icon, but he had a huge international literary reputation,” Nesbit in a statement issued this morning.
“All the same, he was one of the most modest and kindest people I have ever met. I never exchanged a cross word with him in our many years of working together.”
Though his pride in his southern roots remained a constant throughout his life, Wolfe became a fixture on the New York social scene shortly after earning his PhD in American studies from Yale.
With his lanky frame and signature white suits, Wolfe cut an unmistakable figure at Manhattan’s most elite social events.
Within minutes of when news of his death went public, Wolfe’s name became the top trending topic on Twitter.
Tens of thousands of tributes from friends, fans, and literary peers have poured in from all over the world.
Wolfe was often a controversial figure during his decades in the public eye.
And even today, there are those who are addressing some of his more divisive views in unflattering fashion.
But no one is denying that the man knew how to craft a sentence – or make a bold fashion statement.
