Well, Archie and his literary agent, Rex Stout, wove quite a complicated chronological web. Not only are the facts sparse AND contradictory, but some clever subterfuge was employed. Of course, both Wolfe and Archie have aspects of their lives that they prefer remain shrouded. But the literary agent (Rex Stout) and publishers (Farrar & Rinehart, Viking, and various magazines) contributed to the contradictory and vague facts.
The documents referenced below are brave attempts at sorting the chronology. Each document may (and some definitely do) have inaccuracies. But, for those attempting to understand the life, the case load, and the published record of that case load, these documents will be of supreme interest.
In chronological order of publication date:
Gould,William S. Baring, Nero Wolfe of West 35th Street: The Life and Times of America's Largest Detective (1969, Viking Press)- Schultheis, Stephen F. and Dreyfus, Patricia A., A Chronology of Crimes (Winter, 1979, The Gazette: The Journal of The Wolfe Pack)
- Gotwald, Rev. Frederick G., Chronological Order: Wolfe Corpus (1989, privately published)
- Barkocy, Muffy, Documented and Undocumented Cases of Nero Wolfe (1995, Vicious Fishes Web Design)
