Some Buried Caesar

By: Rex Stout

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

A car accident in upstate New York strands Nero Wolfe, America's largest detective, and Archie Goodwin, his confidential assistant, in the midst of a family feud. The feud, over $45,000 worth of prize bull, turns ugly when the beef in question is found pawing the mangled body of a family scion. Solving the mystery is no problem - but, alas, the evidence keeps disappearing.

Stout fellow: listen to all of our Nero Wolfe mysteries, including classic radio programs!

©1939 Rex Stout (P)1994 Books on Tape Inc.

Critic reviews

"It's always a treat to read a Nero Wolfe mystery. The man has entered our folklore." (The New York Times)
"What's not to like about a Nero Wolfe mystery? The mysteries are short, cleverly plotted, well paced, and, if you're an audiobook listener, wonderfully read by Michael Prichard....Prichard has read nearly 20 books in Stout's series and has mastered Wolfe's deep, meditative voice and Archie's spry, chipper voice, as well as those of a host of other characters we recognize from one recording to the next." (AudioFile)

See Nero Climb – Superior Nero Wolfe

Some Buried Caesar is one of the better of the uniformly excellent Nero Wolfe series. Although the audio is not totally crisp, I did not experience any muddiness experienced by others and there were no pops and drops I experienced on some of this series. This story shows Nero Wolfe at his most active – climbing, jumping and even going to the fair! Lots of fun, great characters, and an enjoyable mystery. Hard to beat that combination.

Wolfe at his most imperious -- Fabulous!

"Some Buried Caesar" is the sixth Nero Wolfe book, published in 1939, and is one of the best of the series. For one thing, it is amusing to see Wolfe far from his NYC brownstone, having to put up with the inconvenience and discomfort of having to sleep in a strange bed, sit in chairs which are not big enough to hold his girth, and, worst of all, eating food not prepared by his private chef.

The only thing that could entice Wolfe out of the city is an opportunity to display his hybrid orchids in an exhibition contest. This is what has drawn Wolfe, and consequently his assistant Archie, to the countryside of upstate New York. After their car fetches up against a tree as a result of a blowout, Wolfe and Archie encounter Caesar, a prize Guernsey bull, when they are crossing Caesar's pasture. Archie manages to outrun the bull to the fence and safety, but Wolfe is stranded atop a large boulder in the pasture and has to be rescued.

Thereafter there is a great to-do about the bull, his value and the present owner's plans for the animal, and amidst the arguments and fights first one, and then another, dead body shows up. Of course Wolfe knows immediately that the first man was murdered, and who did it, and the rest of the story involves evidence which keeps disappearing, interspersed with the judging of the orchids.

This is classic Nero Wolfe, with Wolfe at his imperious best, and Archie has plenty of chances to exercise his charm over beautiful young women when he is not discovering bodies or detecting, or irritating the police with his smart remarks. Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe novels have been called by many critics the best American mysteries of all time. I find them well-written and always amusing. The price of the audible versions seems high for the fairly short length, but I find them well worth the price.

One of the best Nero Wolfe stories

If you could sum up Some Buried Caesar in three words, what would they be?

Interesting and unusual

Who was your favorite character and why?

Archie

What about Michael Prichard???s performance did you like?

He IS Nero Wolfe for me.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

This movie is a load of BULL!

Any additional comments?

One of the very BEST Nero Wolfe series.

The best Wolfe I've read so far

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is a genuine mystery. Some of Stout's Wolfe novels are simply elongated chase scenes, with Archie (the real star of so many of these stories) pursuing the bad guy(s) on behalf of his enormous boss. This book has twists, turns and emotional hooks. The various suspects and witnesses have developed personalities, frailties and motives for their actions that surprise. Michael Prichard brings all of them to life.

The only weakness in the story is how a somewhat random act by Wolfe near the start of the tale figures into the solution. But readers can decide for themselves!

What does Michael Prichard bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

If Rex Stout did not have Prichard's interpretation of Archie in mind, then he should have. The other characters get the individuality they deserve. But Prichard makes Archie the star, as he should be.

my favorite Neeo Wolfe story

Archie's Goodwin meets Lily Rowan for the first time. Nero Wolfe spends days out of New York taking on a case mainly to find a decent chair, and place to sleep. Many hilarious moments, esp. Archie's stint in a rural jail and his exchanges with Lily. I've read this but it's even more fun to hear it read by Michael Prichard. I look forward to hearing him read Death of a Doxy, another personal favorite.

No Bull, It’s the Best

Finally we get to watch Nero Wolfe waddling — to perch on a boulder, no less. Caesar seems to be the favorite of Wolfe Pack members and you’ll hear why. Not just an ingenious change of scenery but funny, romantic (you sense Lily, making her debut, will be the love of Archie’s life, along with Nero) and ultimately touching. You’ll almost find yourself pulling for this murderer. Michael’s performance is as always perfect.

My default audio book

What did you love best about Some Buried Caesar?

When I'm all out of books, this is the one I load up to play again.

I liked the interactions between Archie and Wolfe in the opening of this one. The petulance Wolfe had throughout the entire book fit his character to a T.Moreover, I loved the fact that the second time through, it was clear that Wolfe really did know the killer when he said he did, and that all actions after that were designed or intended to just get them back home with as little hassle as possible. It pays to listen to this one twice, especially if you want to study how to write a mystery.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not really, but few if any ever do. I think that's more on me.

Which scene was your favorite?

The opening from about the second word in until they make it to the house. Then, the constant references to the event as if Wolfe thought Archie had done it deliberately.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I could, but I have a long commute to work, so I listen in 45 minute increments.

Any additional comments?

This is also an important book in the Wolfe series, as it introduces a recurring character, although the personality of that character changes between this and the next appearance.

My favorite story among Rex Stout’s Nero Wolff!

I come back to Some Buried Caesar time and time again. As one of Stout’s more popular books as well as an early one (1939, I believe) this is the book that introduces Lily. The banter between Archie and Lily is hilarious! Thoroughly enjoyable story.

My Stout and Prichard Addiction

If you could sum up Some Buried Caesar in three words, what would they be?

Escapist Fun. Delightful.

What did you like best about this story?

Mix of humor and logic and lack of the currently trendy "edginess" and "darkness." Pure entertainment. Wolfe is a curmudgeon after my own heart and Archie is, as Mark Van Doren said, another Huck Finn.

What about Michael Prichard’s performance did you like?

It was my first Nero Wolfe and my first Michael Prichard narration. I cannot imagine any other voice for Archie at this point. For me he IS Archie. I think I have read so many more largely because of the narration. It is hypnotic. (Strangely, a bunch of science nerds attacked his reading of Brian Greene's "The Fabric of the Universe" as "monotonous" or claimed it sounded like an old newsreel. Tastes differ, it seems. Wildly.)

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I am not reading this sort of book to be moved.

Any additional comments?

These books brings back an era when Americans really valued freedom and knew the dangers of authoritarianism (such as political correctness). It is a whiff of fresh air to hear a man express what he thinks without looking over his shoulder. Archie is the great American wise guy.

An oldie but a goodie!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the

What was one of the most memorable moments of Some Buried Caesar?

The mental image of Nero Wolf standing on a large rock in the middle of a field, fending off a bull, was perfect!

Which character ??? as performed by Michael Prichard ??? was your favorite?

My favorite character, as performed by Michael Prichard, is always going to be Archie Goodwin!

Any additional comments?

Nero Wolf will always be a favorite!