ANNOUNCING THE 2024 NERO WOLFE ASSEMBLY
AND THE 47TH BLACK ORCHID BANQUET
Since the 1970s, the highlight of each Wolfean year has been the annual Black Orchid Banquet, held in New York the first Saturday of December each year, in honor of Rex Stout’s birthday.
This year’s Banquet will be held, in person, on Saturday evening, December 7, 2024, starting at 6:00 p.m. We will be returning to Arno Ristorante, 141 West 38th Street (between Broadway and Seventh Avenue). Come to see your Wolfean friends again and enjoy all your favorite Banquet activities including toasts, song parodies, a quiz, and presentation of the year’s Nero and BONA Awards.
Our keynote speaker this year will be Professor Jill Lepore, the David Woods Kemper Professor of History at Harvard University. She is the author of more than a dozen books on American history and culture, a regular columnist for The New Yorker, and a long-time Nero Wolfe devotee. We are looking forward to an excellent talk.
The cost for all this Wolfean entertainment and education will be just $125 per person for Wolfe Pack members and guests, $135 for others. This includes hors d’oeuvres and a three-course dinner with a choice of entrees, as well as complimentary wine at dinner (additional drinks may be ordered à la carte).
The annual Nero Wolfe Assembly will be held on Saturday afternoon, December 7, 2024, beginning at 2:00 p.m., also at Arno Ristorante. You will hear from knowledgeable Wolfeans about different aspects of the worlds of Nero Wolfe and Rex Stout. Once again, in addition to presentations on topics of interest, the Assembly will also include an interactive book discussion. This year we will be discussing Plot It Yourself (1959) – for maximum participation and enjoyment, please reread that book before the discussion. There will be a swap ‘n’ shop table for Nero Wolfe books and memorabilia. Coffee and cookies will be served. The cost is $15 for members and guests, $20 for others.
Members and guests attending both the Assembly and the Banquet can do so for $135 (a $5 saving) if payment is received by November 10, 2024. We have held our event prices for 2024 the same as last year. Please click HERE for the reservation and payment form – you can also take this opportunity to renew your Wolfe Pack membership at the same time!
Questions or comments? Please ask the Werowance at werowance@nerowolfe.org
UPCOMING VIRTUAL BOOK DISCUSSIONS
The Wolfe Pack also continues to hold bimonthly online book discussions via Zoom. These online book discussions are open to Wolfe Pack members only. There is no fee, but advance registration is required, and the number of attendees is limited. If you are a Wolfe Pack member, you should have received a newsletter with details and registration information. If you didn’t receive it, please e-mail werowance -at- nerowolfe.org
IN-PERSON BOOK DISCUSSION IN NEW YORK ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2024
For our New York Metro Area members, our next in-person book discussion will held on Monday, November 18 at a restaurant in midtown Manhattan (specific location to be announced). We will be discussing the ninth Nero Wolfe book, Black Orchids, comprising the novellas "Black Orchids" and "Cordially Invited to Meet Death." We will gather for drinks starting at 6:30 p.m. and the discussion will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Prepayment is not necessary, but if you plan to attend, please let us know by e-mailing werowance -at- nerowolfe.org so we can give the restaurant a headcount. We hope to see many of you there!
WOLFE PACK MEMBERSHIP
For more enjoyment of the works of
Rex Stout, join the Wolfe Pack or renew your membership by sending a check or using PayPal. (Paypal allows you to select which credit card to use with your Purchase.) Membership costs just $40.00 for two years and includes four issues of our journal, The Gazette and newsletters of upcoming events and Wolfean news.
Join or Renew by check or with 
Rex Stout on Dick Cavett Show
(September 2, 1969
Michael Bourne's Interview with Rex Stout
(out of print, no longer available for purchase)
Click below to listen to the interview
Side 1
Side 2 (approx. 10 second start delay)
Rex Stout Interviews John le Carre: Read the Print Interview
Latest Nero Wolfe Pastiche
THE MISADVENTURES OF NERO WOLFE:
Parodies and Pastiches Featuring the Great Detective of West 35th Street
Edited by Josh Pachter
Order the book from Amazon.com
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FLYER
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Soldiers of the Pen: The Writers' War Board in World War II by Thomas Howell
The little-known story of the WW II efforts of The Writers' War Board and its president, Rex Stout. Click the text link above to order.