Thomas Wolfe’s first novel Look Homeward, Angel made his literary fame. It both impressed and disturbed Asheville neighbors who recognized what he’d fictionalized, and inspired later authors like Maya Angelou, Jack Kerouac, and Ray Bradbury.

Wolfe’s book, going public domain in 23 days, is much lauded, but some readers now consider the longer manuscript Wolfe originally submitted, published in 2000 as O Lost, as even better. That stays copyrighted in the US until 2048. #PublicDomainDayCountdown