Nero Wolfe, fictional American private detective, the eccentric protagonist of 46 mystery stories by Rex Stout. Wolfe was introduced in Fer-de-Lance (1934).

A man of expansive appetites and sophisticated tastes, Wolfe is corpulent and moody. Detesting mechanized vehicles and disdaining most humans, he is averse to leaving his home for business reasons; he assigns the physical investigations of murders to his associate and friend Archie Goodwin and manages to solve his mysteries without leaving his own confines. Another of Wolfe’s associates is his private chef, Fritz Brenner, who also works as Wolfe’s butler and handyman. Wolfe’s interest in food is equaled only by his passion for orchids: with the aid of Theodore Horstman, he nurtures some 10,000 orchid plants in his rooftop garden.

The many novels featuring Nero Wolfe include The League of Frightened Men (1935), Too Many Cooks (1938), The Golden Spiders (1953), Champagne for One (1958), Gambit (1962), and A Family Affair (1975). The Nero Wolfe Cookbook was published in 1973.

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This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
Quick Facts
Born:
Dec. 1, 1886, Noblesville, Ind., U.S.
Died:
Oct. 27, 1975, Danbury, Conn. (aged 88)
Notable Works:
“Fer-de-Lance”

Rex Stout (born Dec. 1, 1886, Noblesville, Ind., U.S.—died Oct. 27, 1975, Danbury, Conn.) was an American author who wrote genteel mystery stories revolving around the elegantly eccentric and reclusive detective Nero Wolfe and his wisecracking aide, Archie Goodwin.

Stout worked odd jobs until 1912, when he began to write sporadically for magazines. After writing four moderately successful novels, Stout turned to the form of the detective story. In Fer-de-Lance (1934) he introduced Nero Wolfe, the obese, brilliant aesthete who solves crimes without leaving his New York City brownstone house. Wolfe has, as did Stout, a passion for gourmet foods and gardening. The mysteries are narrated by Archie Goodwin, Wolfe’s link to the outside world. Stout wrote 46 Wolfe mysteries; the well-written books remained very popular. Stout was active in numerous organizations supporting democracy and world federalism, including the Writers Board for World Government.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.