Rex Stout

1886 - 1975

Rex Stout was one of the most prolific American crime writers of the 20th Century and is best-known for his most famous creation, the detective Nero Wolfe. There were over 60 Nero Wolfe books, including six omnibuses, but he also wrote mysteries featuring other detectives and seven novels.

Rex Stout was born in Kansas, USA, in 1886. He had several jobs, including a short period in the US Navy, before settling on a career as a writer. His first Nero Wolfe story was published in 1934 to immediate success. Over the years, his readers became familiar with the detective's old brownstone house on West 35th Street and his love of orchids, beer and good food.