I found the phrase ten rarest nancy drew books as a search term that led someone to this blog. This collectible set contains the first 10 mysteries in the series presented in a specially designed slipcase. The notsohidden racism of nancy drew electric literature. Jul 25, 2009 the first hardy boys book was published three years before the first nancy drew. Producing films in the late 1930s and recently as well in 2007, its eponymous character has an enduring appeal, which is also reflected in its videogame titles as well.
The first nancy drew book, 1930s the secret of the old clock, was ghostwritten by mildred wirt, who penned 23 nancy drew titles as carolyn keenethe same pseudonym used today. Here are all 56 original nancy drew books, ranked from worst to best. Sep 06, 2018 when the first books were released in 1930, nancy was an instant hit. May 30, 2002 mildred wirt benson, who wrote 23 of the first 30 nancy drew novels those spinechilling tales of the fearless teenage sleuth who motored about in a blue roadster solving crimes died on. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Get the best deals on nancy drew books 19001949 when you shop the largest online. Written under the pseudonym carolyn keene, readers met the plucky young heroine nancy drew for the first time. Nancy drew cookbook by keene, carolyn and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The character of nancy drew ghostwritten and credited to the pseudonymous carolyn keene has appeared in a number of series over the years 533 nancy drew books have been published as of 2019, in nine series, as follows. The main characters of this mystery, classics story are.
But my wifes favorite is the nancy drew mystery stories. The first nancy drew is ranked 53rd on the alltime bestselling childrens book list for the united states. Mildred wirt benson authored 23 of the first 30 books in the nancy drew series, beginning at age 24, and she wrote 5 books total during her illustrious career as an author and journalist. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of and is available in hardcover format. When was the first nancy drew book published answers. Apr 28, 2018 on april 28, 1930, the first book in the nancy drew mystery stories, the secret of the old clock, was published. Everything you need to know or want to know is here. Over the years the books have had new cover art and, from 1959 to 1977, the first 34 stories have been revised.
Thats a fair while, even for me who quite enjoys the more ancient side of childrens literature. First nancy drew game in five years wants to teach us to be. Ew has an exclusive first look at nancy drew the curse, the official upcoming prequel novel to the popular tv series currently airing on the cw. And when we hit used bookstores and thrift stores, she searches for a specific type of nancy drew mysteryone that has 25 chapters. Iowan mildred wirt benson authored original nancy drew series. The first hardy boys book was published three years before the first nancy drew. The nancy drew mystery stories collection is the perfect gift for aspiring detectives, or long time fans of the series. The books are ghostwritten by a number of authors and published under the collective pseudonym. Early readers of the nancy drew series may be surprised to find the modern version. Now, for the first time, you can purchase all sixtyfour classic nancy drew titles in. However, the nancy we know today is not the same nancy readers first fell in love with.
The whole world can read nancy drew books, just for a very exciting adventure, kind of. Being so wellversed in the plot lines of the books, fisher is able to determine the ghostwriter who wrote a particular book. The best of nancy drew classic collection, volume 1 the secret of the old clock the bungalow mystery the mystery of the 99 steps by carolyn keene may 11, 2004 5. The character was created by edward stratemeyer, head of the stratemeyer syndicate, which produced not only nancy drew, but also the hardy boys, tom swift, the bobbsey twins, the rover boys and more series. On april 28, 1930, the first book in the nancy drew mystery stories, the secret of the old clock, was published. These books are highly scarce and would come closest to being rare of any nancy drew books. Nancy drew books, in one form or another, have been popular for more than 70 years.
They sometimes included the racial prejudices and ethnic stereotyping of the1930s and 40s authors, but this is not a rampant problem in the books. The character was created by edward stratemeyer, head of the stratemeyer syndicate, which produced not only nancy drew. Order of carolyn keene books carolyn keene is the house name of authors who wrote childrens novels, including all of the various the nancy drew series as well as the dana girls and river heights series. The early classic nancy of the 1930s1940s is bold, independent, fearless, and capable. The books have orange silhouette endpapers and four glossy internal illustrations. Nancy drew a guide to the grosset and dunlap editions. The secret of the old clock, the first in the mythic nancy drew series, was originally published in 1930 with a substantial revision in 1959. Sep 19, 2011 the first nancy drew book, 1930s the secret of the old clock, was ghostwritten by mildred wirt, who penned 23 nancy drew titles as carolyn keenethe same pseudonym used today. When the first books were released in 1930, nancy was an instant hit. To date, more than 70 million copies of the nancy drew books have been sold. Nancy drew, 18yearold amateur detective, is on a mission to save the destitute family of a dead man.
The nancy drew mystery stories was the longrunning main nancy drew series, published between 1930 and 2003. Without the jackets, they are scarce, and with the jackets, they are very scarce. Nancy drew books taught me many new words, which i did not know before. The whole world can read nancy drew books, just for a very exciting adventure, kind of scary, good, good book. Nancy drew mystery stories book series thriftbooks. I have all editions and versions of nancy drew books, all broadart versions, all years of hardcovers and the green twinsies editions, and the wanderer series of the nancy drew books up for sale. Nancy drew is a fictional character, a sleuth in an american mystery series created by publisher edward stratemeyer as the female counterpart to his hardy boys series.
I decided to list some of the rarest nancy drew books and collectibles. In the first nancy drew mystery, the secret of the old clock, on page one we read nancy drew, an attractive girl of eighteen, was driving home along a country road in her new, darkblue conver. Here are all 56 original nancy drew books, ranked worst to best. Original nancy drew books in order summary of nancy drew. The adventurous writer who brought nancy drew to life arts. Mildred wirt benson, who wrote the text of 23 of the first 25 nancy drew books under the direction of edward stratemeyer, was still an active newspaper columnist when she died in. See the complete nancy drew mystery stories series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. First published in 1930, the nancy drew mystery stories have sold over 70 million copies and become a.
Drew, a fictional character and the main protagonist of the nancy drew mystery stories, is a creation of publisher edward stratemeyer, who also created the hardy boys series. Nancy drew is a great mystery, and the best part is that everyone can read nancy drew. The first edition of the novel was published in, and was written by carolyn keene. The nancy drew cookbook contained recipes and short stories.
Initially published in 1930, this was to be the follow up to the first in the ever popular longrunning series of nancy drew novels, as it carried on from where the. The first four nancy drew booksthe secret of the old clock, the hidden staircase, the bungalow mystery, and the mystery at lilac innwere all published in 1930. Jan 30, 2020 nancy drew books, in one form or another, have been popular for more than 70 years. Confessions of a nancy drew collector antique trader. The first printing dust jackets for the first three booksthe jackets that list only to bungalow mystery on the front flapare indeed rare and warrant the use of the word. Thirty years after nancy solved her first mystery, the original books were revised and shortened. Both titles under the nancy drew picture book banner were illustrated picture books aimed at younger readers. Nancy drew has been solving mysteries, and delighting fans, for over 75 years. For people who are not very familiar with collecting nancy drew, be aware that the book or collectible has to be exactly like what i mention. Heralded by many feminists as a strong female rolemodel, nancy drew has had an extremely positive influence on her young readers over the years. The texts of the first 34 nancy drew books come in two versions.
The secret of the 25 chapters in nancy drew books writers. The evolution of nancy drew nancy drew and friends. One glossy illustration occurs before the title page, and the remaining three are scattered throughout the text of the book. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Nancy drew and the mystery of her enduring relevance the. Early readers of the nancy drew series may be surprised to find the modern version of this spirited sleuths adventures to be quite different. Sep 12, 2011 nancy drew, 18yearold amateur detective, is on a mission to save the destitute family of a dead man. The first nancy drew book, 1930s the secret of the old clock, was ghostwritten by mildred wirt, who penned 23 nancy drew titles as carolyn. Ladora native mildred wirt benson, who wrote as carolyn keene. Great deals on one book or all books in the series. The secret of red gate farm is described as a second printing with dust jacket. Oct 22, 2018 being so wellversed in the plot lines of the books, fisher is able to determine the ghostwriter who wrote a particular book. I have all editions and versions of nancy drew books, all broadart versions, all years of hardcovers and the green twinsies editions, and the. Benson, who wrote nancy drew books off and on for two decades, fleshed out stratemeyers breakneck plot while imbuing nancy with spunk, valor and an unflagging sense of her own moral rightness.