Carolyn Wells
Encyclopedia
Carolyn Wells was an American author
and poet
. Born in Rahway, New Jersey
, she was the daughter of William E. and Anna Wells. She died at the Flower-Fifth Avenue Hospital in New York City in 1942.
She had been married to Hadwin Houghton, the heir of the Houghton-Mifflin publishing empire founded by Bernard Houghton. Wells also had an impressive collection of volumes of poetry by others. She bequeathed her collection of Walt Whitman
poetry, said to be one of the most important of its kind for its completeness and rarity, to the Library of Congress (New York Times, Apr. 16, 1942).
After finishing school she worked as a librarian
for the Rahway Library Association. Her first book, At the Sign of the Sphinx (1896), was a collection of charades. Her next publications were The Jingle Book and The Story of Betty (1899), followed by a book of verse entitled Idle Idyls (1900). After 1900, Wells wrote numerous novels and collections of poetry.
Carolyn Wells wrote a total of more than 170 books. During the first ten years of her career, she concentrated on poetry, humor, and children's books. According to her autobiography, The Rest of My Life (1937), around 1910 she heard one of Anna Katherine Green's mystery novels being read aloud and was immediately captivated by the unravelling of the puzzle. From that point onward, she devoted herself to the mystery genre. Among the most famous of her mystery novels were the Fleming Stone Detective Stories which—according to Allen J. Hubin's Crime Fiction IV: A Comprehensive Bibliography, 1749–2000 (2003)—number 61 titles.
In addition to books, Wells also provided her talents to newspapers. Her poetry accompanies the work of some of the leading lights in illustration and cartooning, often in the form of Sunday magazine cover features that formed continuing narratives from week to week. Her first known illustrated newspaper work is a two part series titled Animal Alphabet, illustrated by William F. Marriner, which appeared in the Sunday comics section of the New York World
. Many additional series ensued over the years, including the bizarre classic Adventures of Lovely Lilly (New York Herald
, 1906-07). The last series she penned was Flossy Frills Helps Out (American Weekly, 1942), which appeared after her death.
Today, however, she is best known for her light verse, particularly for several classic limericks
, including this one:
The Clue (1909)
The Gold Bag (1911)
A Chain of Evidence (1912)
The Maxwell Mystery (1913)
Anybody But Anne (1914)
The White Alley (1915)
The Curved Blades (1916)
The Mark of Cain (1917)
Vicky Van (1918)
The Diamond Pin (1919)
Raspberry Jam (1920)
The Mystery of the Sycamore (1921)
The Mystery Girl (1922)
Feathers Left Around (1923)
Spooky Hollow (1923)
The Furthest Fury (1924)
Prillilgirl (1924)
Anything But the Truth (1925)
The Daughter of the House (1925)
The Bronze Hand (1926)
The Red-Haired Girl (1926)
All at Sea (1927)
Where’s Emily (1927)
The Crime in the Crypt (1928)
The Tannahill Tangle (1928)
The Tapestry Room Murder (1929)
Triple Murder (1929)
The Doomed Five (1930)
The Ghosts’ High Noon (1930)
Horror House (1931)
The Umbrella Murder (1931)
Fuller’s Earth (1932)
The Roll-Top Desk Mystery (1932)
The Broken O (1933)
The Clue of the Eyelash (1933)
The Master Murderer (1933)
Eyes in the Wall (1934)
The Visiting Villain (1934)
The Beautiful Derelict (1935)
For Goodness’ Sake (1935)
The Wooden Indian (1935)
The Huddle (1936)
In the Tiger’s Cage (1936)
Money Musk (1936)
Murder in the Bookshop (1936)
The Mystery of the Tarn (1937)
The Radio Studio Murder (1937)
Gilt-Edged Guilt (1938)
The Killer (1938)
The Missing Link (1938)
Calling All Suspects (1939)
Crime Tears On (1939)
The Importance of Being Murdered (1939)
Crime Incarnate (1940)
Devil’s Work (1940)
Murder on Parade (1940)
Murder Plus (1940)
The Black Night Murders (1941)
Murder at the Casino (1941)
Murder Will In (1942)
Who Killed Caldwell? (1942)
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. Born in Rahway, New Jersey
Rahway, New Jersey
Rahway is a city in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, being 15 miles southwest of Manhattan and five miles west of Staten Island...
, she was the daughter of William E. and Anna Wells. She died at the Flower-Fifth Avenue Hospital in New York City in 1942.
She had been married to Hadwin Houghton, the heir of the Houghton-Mifflin publishing empire founded by Bernard Houghton. Wells also had an impressive collection of volumes of poetry by others. She bequeathed her collection of Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
poetry, said to be one of the most important of its kind for its completeness and rarity, to the Library of Congress (New York Times, Apr. 16, 1942).
After finishing school she worked as a librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
for the Rahway Library Association. Her first book, At the Sign of the Sphinx (1896), was a collection of charades. Her next publications were The Jingle Book and The Story of Betty (1899), followed by a book of verse entitled Idle Idyls (1900). After 1900, Wells wrote numerous novels and collections of poetry.
Carolyn Wells wrote a total of more than 170 books. During the first ten years of her career, she concentrated on poetry, humor, and children's books. According to her autobiography, The Rest of My Life (1937), around 1910 she heard one of Anna Katherine Green's mystery novels being read aloud and was immediately captivated by the unravelling of the puzzle. From that point onward, she devoted herself to the mystery genre. Among the most famous of her mystery novels were the Fleming Stone Detective Stories which—according to Allen J. Hubin's Crime Fiction IV: A Comprehensive Bibliography, 1749–2000 (2003)—number 61 titles.
In addition to books, Wells also provided her talents to newspapers. Her poetry accompanies the work of some of the leading lights in illustration and cartooning, often in the form of Sunday magazine cover features that formed continuing narratives from week to week. Her first known illustrated newspaper work is a two part series titled Animal Alphabet, illustrated by William F. Marriner, which appeared in the Sunday comics section of the New York World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
. Many additional series ensued over the years, including the bizarre classic Adventures of Lovely Lilly (New York Herald
New York Herald
The New York Herald was a large distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between May 6, 1835, and 1924.-History:The first issue of the paper was published by James Gordon Bennett, Sr., on May 6, 1835. By 1845 it was the most popular and profitable daily newspaper in the UnitedStates...
, 1906-07). The last series she penned was Flossy Frills Helps Out (American Weekly, 1942), which appeared after her death.
Today, however, she is best known for her light verse, particularly for several classic limericks
Limerick (poetry)
A limerick is a kind of a witty, humorous, or nonsense poem, especially one in five-line or meter with a strict rhyme scheme , which is sometimes obscene with humorous intent. The form can be found in England as of the early years of the 18th century...
, including this one:
A canner exceedingly canny
One morning remarked to his granny:
“A canner can can
Any thing that he can
But a canner can’t can a can, can he?”
Works
NOVELSThe Clue (1909)
The Gold Bag (1911)
A Chain of Evidence (1912)
The Maxwell Mystery (1913)
Anybody But Anne (1914)
The White Alley (1915)
The Curved Blades (1916)
The Mark of Cain (1917)
Vicky Van (1918)
The Diamond Pin (1919)
Raspberry Jam (1920)
The Mystery of the Sycamore (1921)
The Mystery Girl (1922)
Feathers Left Around (1923)
Spooky Hollow (1923)
The Furthest Fury (1924)
Prillilgirl (1924)
Anything But the Truth (1925)
The Daughter of the House (1925)
The Bronze Hand (1926)
The Red-Haired Girl (1926)
All at Sea (1927)
Where’s Emily (1927)
The Crime in the Crypt (1928)
The Tannahill Tangle (1928)
The Tapestry Room Murder (1929)
Triple Murder (1929)
The Doomed Five (1930)
The Ghosts’ High Noon (1930)
Horror House (1931)
The Umbrella Murder (1931)
Fuller’s Earth (1932)
The Roll-Top Desk Mystery (1932)
The Broken O (1933)
The Clue of the Eyelash (1933)
The Master Murderer (1933)
Eyes in the Wall (1934)
The Visiting Villain (1934)
The Beautiful Derelict (1935)
For Goodness’ Sake (1935)
The Wooden Indian (1935)
The Huddle (1936)
In the Tiger’s Cage (1936)
Money Musk (1936)
Murder in the Bookshop (1936)
The Mystery of the Tarn (1937)
The Radio Studio Murder (1937)
Gilt-Edged Guilt (1938)
The Killer (1938)
The Missing Link (1938)
Calling All Suspects (1939)
Crime Tears On (1939)
The Importance of Being Murdered (1939)
Crime Incarnate (1940)
Devil’s Work (1940)
Murder on Parade (1940)
Murder Plus (1940)
The Black Night Murders (1941)
Murder at the Casino (1941)
Murder Will In (1942)
Who Killed Caldwell? (1942)