Rex Todhunter Stout was born December 1, 1886, in Noblesville, Indiana, but the family moved to Kansas when Stout was one, according to Stout 'because I was fed up with Indiana politics.' Stout was involved seriously with politics throughout his life, an outspoken liberal, no doubt because of his Quaker heritage. Through World War II, Stout was the head of The Writers' War Board, and for years Stout was involved with other organizations dedicated to world government and peace, and was president of The Author's Guild.

Stout was writing from his youth on, but worked at other things, usually involving the managing of money. In 1912, Stout invented a savings program which started bank days in schools throughout the nation and encouraged children to open savings accounts. Banks paid Stout a commission for every depositor, enough for Stout to retire with $400,000 in 1927 and go to Paris to write.

The series of psychological novels, starting with 'How Like a God" in 1929, were critically but not financially successful. Stout oft quoted Samuel Johnson: "Only a blockhead would write except for money." And so, Stout created Nero Wolfe, or as Stout said "Nero Wolfe just appeared" in 1934, and for 40 years thereafter the Nero Wolfe series was a success indeed, enabling Stout to do whatever he wanted to do-and he did.

This special edition was intended as a 89th birthday tribute to a living great. Now it's a memorial.

Michael Bourne is a journalist and broadcaster living in Bloomington, Indiana and is a candidate for a doctorate in Theatre at Indiana University. He is a confirmed Stout-ophile and an aspiring mystery writer.

---

From the Fly leaf

CORSAGE -- A BOUQUET OF REX STOUT AND NERO WOLFE

BITTER END -- A NERO WOLFE NOVEL BY REX STOUT

AN INFORMAL INTERVIEW WITH REX STOUT -- An interview of Rex Stoute by Michael Bourne

WHY NERO WOLFE LIKES ORCHIDS -- by ARCHIE GOODWIN

EDITED BY MICHAEL BOURNE

ILLUSTRATED BY SID WRIGHT JR.