Rex Stout ​

Rex Todhunter Stout was an American writer noted for his detective fiction. His best-known characters are the oversized, eccentric detective Nero Wolfe and his sidekick, Archie Goodwin. These characters featured in a series of 33 novels and 39 short stories written by Stout between 1934 and 1975.

Quick Facts ​

• His first successful novel was 'Fer-de-Lance' which introduced his most popular creation, detective Nero Wolfe.
• Wrote more than 70 novels, the majority of them belonging to the Nero Wolfe detective series.
• His novels have been translated into 22 languages.
• The Nero Wolfe series was adapted into multiple television series, radio programs, and films.
• Was posthumously awarded the Grand Master Award by the Mystery Writers of America in 1959.

Background ​

Stout was born on 1886 in Noblesville, Indiana, to John and Lucetta Stout. He was the sixth of nine children. His family were Quakers, and he was raised in a small farm town, where he spent most of his childhood reading and making up stories. He left home at the age of 18 to enlist in the U.S. Navy and served for two years.

After leaving the Navy, he worked as a bookkeeper and wrote in his free time. He published his first piece of fiction, a short story, in 1912. In the 1930s, he created the character Nero Wolfe, a detective genius who lives in New York City, and wrote a series of successful novels centered around him. He continued to write Nero Wolfe novels until his death in 1975 at 88 years old.

Writing Style and Impact ​

Stout's writing style is known for its fast-paced narrative and witty dialogue. His work is characterized by well-crafted plots, clever detective work, and his ability to create a believable world. Stout is also recognized for his creation of Archie Goodwin, a smart and sassy detective who remains one of the most popular characters in detective fiction. His work helped usher in the era of the "hard-boiled" detective novel.

Notable Works ​

• Fer-de-Lance (1934)
• The League of Frightened Men (1935)
• Some Buried Caesar (1939)
• Where There's a Will (1940)
• Too Many Cooks (1940)
• Over My Dead Body (1940)
• Murder by the Book (1951)
• If Death Ever Slept (1957)
• The Doorbell Rang (1965)