The vanishing of Carolyn Wells : investigations into a forgotten mystery author / Rebecca Rego Barry.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Barry, Rebecca Rego, 1976- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Women authors, American--Biography.

Women authors, American.

Wells, Carolyn, 1862-1942.

Wells, Carolyn.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xix, 332 pages : black and white illustrations, portraits ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

New York ; Nashville : Post Hill Press, [2024]

Summary:

"Carolyn Wells (1862-1942) excelled at writing country house and locked-room mysteries for a decade before Agatha Christie entered the scene. In the 1920s, when she was churning out three or more books annually, she was dubbed 'about the biggest thing in mystery novels in the US.' On top of that, Wells wielded her pen in just about every literary genre, producing several immensely popular children's books and young adult novels; beloved anthologies; and countless stories, prose, and poetry for magazines such as Thrilling Detective, Life, The Saturday Evening Post, Harper's, and The New Yorker. All told, Wells wrote over 180 books. Some were adapted into silent films, and some became bestsellers. Yet a hundred years later, she has been all but erased from literary history. Why? How? This investigation takes us on a journey to Rahway, New Jersey, where Wells was born and is buried; to New York City's Upper West Side, where she spent her final twenty-five years; to the Library of Congress, where Carolyn's world-class collection of rare books now resides; and to many other public and private collections where exciting discoveries unfolded"--Page 4 of cover.

Contents:

Jersey girl(s)

In the library

Are women funny?

Little women: Betty, Patty, Marjorie, and Dorrance

Miss Mystery

On the big screen

The bride wore blue

Bulletproof

The mermaid

Whitmania

"Lost ladies now well lost."

Notes:

"List of books written/edited by Carolyn Wells": Pages 301-307.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 309-329).

ISBN:

9781637588505

163758850X

OCLC:

1390678321

Publisher Number:

90101237104