Stout, Rex (Todhunter) (1886–1975)

US writer. He had a long and successful writing career. His first mystery novel, Fer-de-Lance (1934), introduced Nero Wolfe, a fat, brilliant, orchid-loving detective, and Archie Goodwin, his assistant and man-about-town. He was also a founder and director of Vanguard Press.

He was born in Noblesville, Indiana. His family moved to Topeka, Kansas, when he was young, and he was schooled locally. He joined the navy 1906–08, then held a variety of jobs in different locations. He lived in Paris 1927–29. Stout lived in Brewster, New York, served on many patriotic committees and boards, and was a radio broadcaster during World War II.