
The Greatest Works of S. S. Van Dine (Illustrated Edition)
Enriched edition. The Benson Murder Case, The Canary Murder Case, The Greene Murder Case, The Bishop Murder Case…By S.S. Van Dine, Willard Huntington WrightLength115h 25m
About this audiobook
The Greatest Works of S.S. Van Dine (Illustrated Edition) presents a vital exploration into the realms of early twentieth-century detective fiction through its rich compendium of mysteries that have captivated readers for decades. Reflecting varied literary styles, the anthology navigates the intellectually rigorous and intricately plotted world created by Van Dine, a pen name for Willard Huntington Wright. The collection showcases the celebrated and innovative detective Philo Vance, whose cerebral approach to solving crimes innovated the genre and influenced subsequent mystery writing. The illustrated edition adds a visual richness, bringing early 1900s New York vividly to life, enhancing the reader's experience of the text's historical and cultural contextualization. The anthology aligns with and celebrates significant cultural and literary movements of the 1920s and 1930s, marking a period of evolution in American crime fiction. This collection, curated from S.S. Van Dine's prolific career, illustrates a unique blend of intellectual challenge mixed with the pivotal jazz-age backdrop, providing contemporary readers with both entertainment and a deep understanding of a pivotal era in literary history. For enthusiasts of classic detective stories and scholars of American literary culture, this anthology is indispensable. It serves as an educational tool and a platform for examining early modernist impulses in genre fiction. Readers are urged to explore this volume, not only to enjoy the enthralling narratives but also to appreciate the art form of mystery woven through the seminal works of one of the genre's architects.
In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience:
- A comprehensive Introduction outlines these selected works' unifying features, themes, or stylistic evolutions.
- A Historical Context section situates the works in their broader era—social currents, cultural trends, and key events that underpin their creation.
- A concise Synopsis (Selection) offers an accessible overview of the included texts, helping readers navigate plotlines and main ideas without revealing critical twists.
- A unified Analysis examines recurring motifs and stylistic hallmarks across the collection, tying the stories together while spotlighting the different work's strengths.
- Reflection questions inspire deeper contemplation of the author's overarching message, inviting readers to draw connections among different texts and relate them to modern contexts.
- Lastly, our hand‐picked Memorable Quotes distill pivotal lines and turning points, serving as touchstones for the collection's central themes.
Audiobook details
GenreMystery and Thriller
Length115 hrs 25 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateOct 16, 2017
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Greatest Works of S. S. Van Dine (Illustrated Edition)
2Introduction
3Historical Context
4Synopsis (Selection)
5The Philo Vance Series
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6THE BENSON MURDER CASE
7CHAPTER I PHILO VANCE AT HOME
8CHAPTER II AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME
9CHAPTER III A LADY’S HAND-BAG
10CHAPTER IV THE HOUSEKEEPER’S STORY
11CHAPTER V GATHERING INFORMATION
12CHAPTER VI VANCE OFFERS AN OPINION
13CHAPTER VII REPORTS AND AN INTERVIEW
14CHAPTER VIII VANCE ACCEPTS A CHALLENGE
15CHAPTER IX THE HEIGHT OF THE MURDERER
16CHAPTER X ELIMINATING A SUSPECT
17CHAPTER XI A MOTIVE AND A THREAT
18CHAPTER XII THE OWNER OF A COLT-.45
19CHAPTER XIII THE GREY CADILLAC
20CHAPTER XIV LINKS IN THE CHAIN
21CHAPTER XV “PFYFE—PERSONAL”
22CHAPTER XVI ADMISSIONS AND SUPPRESSIONS
23CHAPTER XVII THE FORGED CHECK
24CHAPTER XVIII A CONFESSION
25CHAPTER XIX VANCE CROSS-EXAMINES
26CHAPTER XX A LADY EXPLAINS
27CHAPTER XXI SARTORIAL REVELATIONS
28CHAPTER XXII VANCE OUTLINES A THEORY
29CHAPTER XXIII CHECKING AN ALIBI
30CHAPTER XXIV THE ARREST
31CHAPTER XXV VANCE EXPLAINS HIS METHODS
32THE "CANARY" MURDER CASE
33CHAPTER I THE “CANARY”
34CHAPTER II FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW
35CHAPTER III THE MURDER
36CHAPTER IV THE PRINT OF A HAND
37CHAPTER V THE BOLTED DOOR
38CHAPTER VI A CALL FOR HELP
39CHAPTER VII A NAMELESS VISITOR
40CHAPTER VIII THE INVISIBLE MURDERER
41CHAPTER IX THE PACK IN FULL CRY
42CHAPTER X A FORCED INTERVIEW
43CHAPTER XI SEEKING INFORMATION
44CHAPTER XII CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
45CHAPTER XIII AN ERSTWHILE GALLANT
46CHAPTER XIV VANCE OUTLINES A THEORY
47CHAPTER XV FOUR POSSIBILITIES
48CHAPTER XVI SIGNIFICANT DISCLOSURES
49CHAPTER XVII CHECKING AN ALIBI
50CHAPTER XVIII THE TRAP