Introduction To Nero Wolfe, Part I Quiz

Answer: 72

Between 1934 and 1974, Rex Stout wrote 72 Nero Wolfe cases. Of those, 33 were novels and 39 were novellas or short stories. Stout was a prolific author in addition to his Wolfe books. To see his full range of writings, please visit www.nerowolfe.org.

Answer: Fer-de-Lance

These were the first four novels published. "Fer-de-Lance" was published in 1934. In it, Nero Wolfe must deal with a golfer's violent and unexpected demise, the secrets of the other members of the foursome with whom he was playing, ancient enmity, a deadly snake, and an attempt on his life. In a very unusual ending, Wolfe seeks justice for all.

"The League Of Frightened Men" was published in 1935, "The Rubber Band" in 1937, and "The Red Box" in 1937.

Answer: West 35th Street

Although Stout's use of West 35th Street is consistent, the house number is not. Most numbers are in the 900 block: for example, 902 in "Murder By The Book"; 914 in "Too Many Women"; 918 in "The Red Box"; and 938 in "Death Of A Doxy". But "Too Many Clients" has the number as 618.

Answer: Archie Goodwin

In "Easter Parade" (which is part of the collection "And Four To Go"), Archie indicates that he sorts the mail, puts up with Wolfe's many moods, assists in the plant rooms and the kitchen, and runs errands. He also states that he deals with clients, tails suspects, helps cope with officers of the law, and often ends up in dangerous or deadly situations.

Answer: Orchid

Nero Wolfe has a passion for orchids. In the short story "Easter Parade" (published in "And Four To Go") he even has Archie Goodwin hire a sneak thief to steal a unique orchid off a woman's dress on Easter Sunday. The plant rooms take up the top floor of his house.

He spends four hours each day (9-11 AM and 4-6 PM, unless a dire emergency interrupts him) cultivating, growing, and breeding them assisted by a full-time live-in gardener. He has about 10,000 orchids. He does not sell them, but occasionally gives some away. For more on Wolfe's orchids, please look up "Nero Wolfe's Orchids--The Wolf Pack" on line, and "Why Nero Wolfe Likes Orchids," Life Magazine, 15 September, 1963, by Archie Goodwin.

Answer: Theodore Horstmann

Theodore Horstmann has living quarters near the plant rooms on the top floor of Wolf's home. Although his name is mentioned often, he, himself, rarely appears in a story. The only reference to where he eats appears in "Plot It Yourself" when Archie Goodwin comments: "Theodore Horstmann is the orchid-tender, with no responsibilities or business on the lower floors.

He eats in the kitchen with [Wolfe's chef]. I eat in the dining room with Wolfe." Lewis Hewitt is also an orchid grower and acquaintance of Wolfe. Nathaniel Parker is the lawyer Wolfe uses when he or a client needs an attorney. Felix Courbet is the part owner and manager of Rusterman's Restaurant.

Answer: Gourmet

Gourmet means "a connoisseur of good food; a person with a discerning palate". Glutton, gorger, and gobbler all mean a person who eats too much, and who consumes food greedily and noisily. A gourmand is a person who enjoys eating and often eats a lot. Given his weight (usually about 285 pounds), Wolfe might best be described as a gourmet/gourmand. [Google Dictionary and Vocabulary.com]

Answer: Fritz Brenner

Fritz Brenner is a Swiss chef who prepares all of Wolfe's meals that he eats at home, often with Wolfe's assistance (the two occasionally disagree on ingredients). "Fritz could have had a room upstairs, but he prefers the basement. His den is as big as the office and front room combined, but over the years it has got pretty cluttered--busts of Escoffier [Auguste, a famous French chef] and Brillat-Savarin [Jean, a noted French epicure] on stands, framed menus on the wall, a king-size bed, five chairs, shelves of books (he has 289 cookbooks), a head of a wild boar he shot in the Vosges, a TV and stereo cabinet, two large cases of ancient cooking vessels, one of which he thinks was used by Julius Caesar's chef, and so on." (From "The Doorbell Rang").

Edwin Volmer is a doctor and Wolfe's neighbor, often called upon by Wolfe. Lon Cohen is a journalist in a very high management position at the New York "Gazette", a person regularly consulted for information, and regularly given information, by Archie Goodwin and sometimes Wolfe. Dol Bonner is a female freelance private detective whose services Wolfe sometimes uses.

Answer: Captain David Dawson

Inspector Cramer (first name Fergus in "Where There's A Will", but given the initials L.T.C. in "The Silent Speaker") is the head of the NYPD Homicide Division. Sergeant Purley Stebbins is Cramer's assistant who often accompanies Cramer when he visits Wolfe. Lieutenant Rowcliff is disliked by both Wolfe and Goodwin. I made up Captain David Dawson.

Answer: A Family Affair

These were the last four novels published during Stout's lifetime. "A Family Affair" (1975) was the final one. In it, Pierre Ducos, a waiter at Rusterman's, appears late at night and tells Archie Goodwin that a man is going to kill him. He will name the man only to Nero Wolfe, who is sleeping. To protect him, Archie puts Ducos up in the South Room so he can see Wolfe in the morning. A few minutes later, there is an explosion. Ducos is dead. Outraged that someone would commit murder in his home, Wolfe intends to solve the case on his own, without any fee. He calls on his usual help, and intends to keep the investigation all in the family. The climax is extraordinary.

"Please Pass The Guilt" (1973), "Death Of A Dude" (1969), and "The Father Hunt" (1968) precede "A Family Affair." After Stout's death, three novellas ("Bitter End, Frame Up For Murder" and "Assault on A Brownstone") were published for the first time in book form in "Death Times Three" (1985).