S.S. Van DineS.S Van Dine is the pseudonym of Willard Huntington Wright, born in 1888, whose eminent career as a crime novelist opened with The Benson Murder Case in 1926. Before this he was well known as an art critic, journalist and socialite; he as Editor-in-Chief of The Smart Set Magazine, Editor of The International Studio, and author of several books, including a study of Nietzsche and works on modern painting.

Forced through overwork to take a long rest, and forbidden by his doctors to do any 'serious' reading, Wright read over two thousand detective novels and books on criminology. Subsequently, as S.S. Van Dine, he wrote a series of best-selling crime novels. His detective Philo Vance – one of the most famous amateur sleuths of his time – was immortalised on screen by William Powell in The Canary Murder Case. Van Dine died in 1939. Read More Read Less