Origins & Early Life

Rex Todhunter Stout (; December 1, 1886 – October 27, 1975) was an American writer noted for his detective fiction. His best-known characters are the detective Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin, who were featured in 33 novels and 39 novellas or short stories between 1934 and 1975, starting with Fer-de-Lance (1934). In 1959, Stout received the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award. The Nero Wolfe corpus was nominated Best Mystery Series of the Century at Bouchercon XXXI, the world's largest mystery convention, and Rex Stout was nominated as Best Mystery Writer of the Century.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In addition to writing fiction, Stout was a prominent public intellectual for decades. Stout was active in the early years of the American Civil Liberties Union and a founder of the Vanguard Press. He served as head of the Writers' War Board during World War II, became a radio celebrity through his numerous broadcasts, and was later active in promoting world federalism. He was the long-time president of the Authors Guild and sought to benefit authors by lobbying for improvement of authors' rights under the copyright laws. He also served a term as president of the Mystery Writers of America in...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alfonso XIII — Contemporary (Born in 1886) (1886): King of Spain (1886-1931), whose reign spanned constitutional crises and republican upheaval.
• Clarence Birdseye — Contemporary (Born in 1886) (1886): Founder of the modern frozen food industry through rapid-freezing technology.
• David Ben-Gurion — Contemporary (Born in 1886) (1886): Primary national founder and first Prime Minister of the State of Israel.
• 50 Cent — Contemporary (Born in 1975) (1975): Iconic rapper, actor, and entrepreneur known for raw storytelling and business acumen.
• Alex Rodriguez — Contemporary (Born in 1975) (1975): Legendary baseball player and businessman, known as "A-Rod"
• Allen Iverson — Contemporary (Born in 1975) (1975): Iconic NBA scorer and guard, nicknamed "the Answer", celebrated for his electrifying play.
• Aleister Crowley — Shared historical date (12-01 · Died) (1947): Founder of Thelema, a major occultist, poet, and ceremonial magician.
• Bette Midler — Shared historical date (12-01 · Born) (1945): Iconic American performer known for her powerhouse vocals and comedic timing.
• Abu Bakr — Shared historical date (10-27 · Born) (573): First Rashidun Caliph and esteemed companion of the Prophet Muhammad.
• Bernie Wrightson — Shared historical date (10-27 · Born) (1948): Master American comic artist celebrated for intricate horror and science fiction illustration.
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• 1975 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1975
• October 27 (10-27) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 27