Rubber and the Cowboys of 1895

This 3rd Nero Wolfe novel was published in 1936.  It was my introduction into the writings of Rex Stout.   I was mightily impressed with his powers of prose!

I found Archie's early twentieth century lingo to be at times a bit puzzling, though charming.  The attitudes of Archie and Wolfe towards the shallow Clara Fox I found refreshing.  You simply, in postmodern times, cannot speak truths to, of, or on women—it is forbidden, a societal blasphemy to acknowledge any flaws or differences in any gender other than the male, the Homer Simpson.

I am glad such femi-nazism did not exist in this novel.  What statements were made by Archie and Wolfe about Ms. Fox were apt and insightful  observations into her true character.  Postmodern society would hang Stout for creating such a realistic woman.  It is not by chance that Nero Wolf is not on PBS, yet the feminine female creation that is Hercule Poirot... is.  And yet, I love Poirot as well as Christie, who hated her Poirot (telling, isn't it?).

To further my point, Stout has not created a sexist stereotype with Clara Fox.  Clara Fox is anything but weak.  She is strong-willed, dauntless, and knows exactly what she wants.  Wolfe and Archie realize that what she yearns for is shallow—to be an adventuress—to seek out the security of a man.  Her methodology in this and her task to secure her father's debt owed are inept and puerile.  For this reason, Wolfe, Archie, and myself find Ms. Clara Fox repulsive, though we may gaze at her flesh admiringly (I myself, can only imagine).

I suspect that the reason for Wolfe's harsh judgment to the natural characteristics inherent to women is something that I must learn of upon further reading.

As for my judgment of the character of Nero Wolfe—I find him fascinating!  An eccentric homebody who has created a intimate and exclusive universe filled with books, orchids, beer, good food, good company—a fat demigod who oversees the destiny of men from on high, even able to hold the "dicks" at bay.  God bless the dear Inspector Cramer.

I am most most impressed with Nero's manner of speech.  Unlike the hip, slang-wielder Archie, Wolfe's language is a beautiful and complex flow of ratiocination accentuated with searing comicality.  Archie is quite witty himself, in a streetwise, Dickens' Sam Weller sort of way.  Quite a nice contrast of intelligence between Wolfe and sidekick Archie.

I also found Wolfe's entourage multifarious and "satisfactory" in service: Cook, Fritz Brenner; Orchid expert, Theodore Horstmann; the 3 "teers", Saul Panzer, Fred Durkin, and Orrie Cather;  also,  the freelance operative Johnny Keems.   Wolfe's household just gives one that warm tingly feeling inside!  Maybe it's the American lager!

I certainly will be reading more Rex Stout novels.  Superlative!