By Rex Stout The following poem, written by Rex Stout, appeared in the August 21, 1935 issue of The New York Times, in conjunction with the then-recent publication of his second Nero Wolfe mystery. At the time, Stout was still relatively unknown, and must have been feeling a little sensitive about being pegged as a mere … Continue reading “Apologia Pro Vita Sua”
Tag: Rex Stout
Berkeley Barnes & Larry Howe
Created by Eugene FranklinPseudonym of Eugene Franklin Bandy, Jr.(1914-1987) Here's another spin on the Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin formula. Pill-popping BERKELEY HOY BARNES is a New York City hypochondriac, and former lawyer turned private eye, who really doesn't like meeting people he doesn't know. He relies on LARRY HOWE to do the legwork, keep track of … Continue reading Berkeley Barnes & Larry Howe
Claudius Lyon & Arnie Woodbine
Created by Loren D. Estleman(1952--) "Are you familiar with the work of Rex Stout?" A great series of short stories by P.I. master Estleman, creator of Amos Walker, Valentino et al, is both homage and gentle parody of Rex Stout's beloved Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. ARNIE WOODBINE is an ex-con who boasts that he's a … Continue reading Claudius Lyon & Arnie Woodbine
Sally Colt (aka Sally Corbett)
Created by Rex Stout (1886-1975) "Sally... was one of the two women who, a couple of years back, had made me feel that there might be some flaw in my attitude toward female dicks." -- Archie Goodwin SALLY COLT (sometimes known as SALLY CORBETT) is a trim, blonde, blue-eyed, Manhattan-based P.I. who appeared in several Nero … Continue reading Sally Colt (aka Sally Corbett)
Tecumseh Fox
Created by Rex Stout (1886-1975) TECUMSEH FOX is a private eye who shows up in a few novels by Rex Stout. Unlike some of his other detectives, Tecumseh is an average-looking guy, except for his "penetrating" brown eyes and his rather dapper fashion sense. Tecumseh lives and works out of a large farm full … Continue reading Tecumseh Fox
Alphabet Hicks
Created by Rex Stout (1886-1975) Best known as "that guy that created Nero Wolfe," Rex Stout managed to squeeze out a few other enjoyable gumshoes, including ALFRED "ALPHABET" HICKS, a disgraced young lawyer who blames an excess of both pride and ethics for his disbarment during his very first year of practice. Suddenly out on his keister, … Continue reading Alphabet Hicks
Nero Wolfe & Archie Goodwin
Created by Rex Stout (1886-1975) "Compose yourself, Archie. Why taunt me? Why upbraid me? I am merely a genius, not a god." --Nero Wolfe humbly confesses, in Fer-de-Lance "Go to hell, I'm reading." -- Archie has other things on his mind. Also in Fer-de-Lance At first glance, Rex Stout's NERO WOLFE might seem out of … Continue reading Nero Wolfe & Archie Goodwin
In the Shadow of the Wolfe
Variations on a Theme, Originally Composed by Rex Stout Despite the fact Rex Stout cranked out a veritable mountain of stories, novellas and novels about Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, the public wanted more, more, more. And other writers couldn't help but try to hop on the gravy train, with their own reimaginings. Berkeley Barnes … Continue reading In the Shadow of the Wolfe
My Scrapbook: P.S. Magazine
My Scrapbook P.S. Magazine, Special "Private Eye" edition "With this, the third issue of P S., we have expanded our special section on a single subject, as we warned you we would. This issue investigates those investigators of fiction — the legendary private eyes. Who has not peered with them through a London fog, or … Continue reading My Scrapbook: P.S. Magazine
Dol Bonner
Created by Rex Stout (1886-1975) One of the first female eyes to make it to a novel. Before he struck it rich with Nero Wolfe, Rex Stout experimented with a few other private eyes, including no-nonsense THEOLINDA "DOL" BONNER, a young socialite whose family's fortune was wiped out in the Depression. Not overly fond of men, … Continue reading Dol Bonner