Nero Wolfe of West 35th Street

The private life of America's favorite detective is finally revealed! William S. Baring-Gould unearthed a wealth of delightful personal detail about Nero Wolfe, that idiosyncratic and rotund gourmet, for this diverting "biography". The doors of Wolfe's famous brownstone are opened to reveal the corpulent sleuth in his natural element: his daily habits, philosophy, and tastes in food and wine are closely scrutinized, as are the contents of his library and his exotic orchid collection. Here, too, are the stories of Wolfe's longtime associates-his charming legman, Archie Goodwin, and his indulgent cook, Fritz Brenner. Mr. Baring-Gould also explores Neo Wolfe's mysterious parentage (linked to that of Sherlock Holmes) and follows his career in a complete, annotated chronology of cases. -From the back cover.