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Title details for The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells by Rebecca Rego Barry - Available

The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells

Investigations into a Forgotten Mystery Author

by Rebecca Rego Barry
Laura Jennings
Audiobook
3 of 3 copies available
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The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells is the first biography of one of the "lost ladies" of detective fiction who wrote more than eighty mysteries and hundreds of other works between the 1890s and the 1940s.
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.
Part biography and part sleuthing narrative, The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells recovers the life and work of a brilliant writer who was considered one of the funniest, most talented women of her time.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    February 13, 2024

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781624619991
      • File size: 259038 KB
      • Duration: 08:59:39

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      June 1, 2024

      Editor, writer, and independent audiobook publisher Barry (Rare Books Uncovered) pens an intriguing biography of Carolyn Wells (1862-1942), a mystery author who has largely been forgotten but was incredibly prolific and influential from the 1890s through the 1940s. Wells wrote nearly 80 mystery novels and 100 other works, including poetry, screenplays, and more; she was well known for her country house and locked-room mysteries, but she also wrote children's books, young adult novels, stories, magazine installments, and more. Critics even compared her to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, yet most details about her life and legacy have been lost. Barry set out to write the first biography of one of the "lost ladies" of detective fiction and, in the process, wrote a bit of a mystery herself. She inserts herself into the narrative, taking listeners along for the ride in her search through public libraries, college archives, antique bookstores, and even eBay, chasing down all leads in her quest for more information about this lost literary icon. Handsomely narrated by Laura Jennings, who captures the intrigue and momentum of Barry's story, this biography sounds like a cozy mystery. VERDICT Mystery lovers will thoroughly enjoy this captivating account.--Erin Cataldi

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Laura Jennings offers listeners a nonfiction audiobook with the feel of a fascinating novel. We meet author Carolyn Wells (1862-1942), who wrote 180 books, mostly mysteries, along with children's books, parodies, limericks, and early movies for Thomas Edison. Despite being considered a major author of her time, Wells is virtually unknown today. Jennings deftly presents interviews, including some with family and friends, and offers in-depth research from libraries and archives. The struggles of Wells's life are vividly described as she mingles with luminaries, fights to access male-dominated institutions, and talks herself into book collectors' homes, as well as the Library of Congress. Audio creates a lively tribute to a woman ahead of her time. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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