The Philo Vance character was created by S.S. Van Dine (pen name of Willard Huntington Wright) in a series of detective novels beginning in 1927. The Philo Vance of the novels was a dilettante; Van Dine wrote that he was "An aristocrat by birth and instinct, he held himself severely aloof from the common world of men. In his manner there was an indefinable contempt for inferiority of all kinds." An "aristo" in the same vein as the later James Bond, but much more irritating. Vance was an expert in art, criminology, ancient Egypt, fencing, a talented polo player, patron of classical music, breeder of champion show dogs, knowledgeable chess player, winning handicapper of race-horses, and master poker player. http://oldtimeradiodvd.com and http://audiblepodcast.com/rnn 1 free audio book