1920-1930 Laughery

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John Laughery, The Man Who Created Philo Vance 1920s, 1910s

     "S. S. van Dine was born Willard Huntington Wright on October 15, 1887 [ -1938]. Reading a variety of mystery novels Willard wrote his first Philo Vance novel The Benson Murder Case which was published under the name "S. S. Van Dine" to separate himself from the light entertainment. Max Perkins, an editor for Scribners, accepted the manuscript and in 1926 the novel was published. Philo Vance was a hit with the public and Willard was finally a success. There was soon more Philo Vance novels and in 1928 William Powell played Philo in a Paramount movie that also starred Louise Brooks. The second Philo Vance was Basil Rathbone in The Bishop Murder Case (1930). Willard had a good lifestyle but by 1937 the fashion of detective fiction had changed and Willard's style of writing was no longer wanted by Scribners. His last book was the Winter Murder Case. On April 11, 1938 Willard died. By the 1960s both Willard and Philo Vance were pretty much forgotten by the readers of detective fiction. A good biography that recreates the times of Willard Huntington Wright. . ."

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 Kelyn Roberts 2017