Rex Stout (1886-1975) - American writer and publicist, originally from a Quaker family. At the age of 18 he joined the navy and even then began writing psychological novels, imitating W. Faulkner and F. S. Fitzgerald. He considered serving on the yacht of US President T. Roosevelt to be the most remarkable event of his youth. He later worked in the hotel business and rose from a simple employee to a hotel manager. Stout was also involved in social activities: at one time he headed the American Detective Club. His 46 detective novels brought him worldwide fame, in which the main characters are the traditional couple - private detectives Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings. With a passion for orchids and gourmet cuisine, Nero Wolfe and his witty, resourceful and fearless assistant Archie Goodwin solve the puzzles presented to them with a brilliant analytical mind, knowledge of life, and great hard work and decency, never or almost never resorting to physical violence. In the story “A Visit from Santa Claus,” the investigation is led by District Inspector Art Hipple.