Percival Wilde

Born in New York City in 1887, Percival Wilde became an American author and playwright whose career stretched across fiction and drama. He wrote novels, short stories, and many one-act plays, building a reputation for polished construction and an eye for neat, satisfying twists.

Wilde is especially associated with mystery and detective fiction, but he also had a strong presence in the theater. That mix of interests helps explain the feel of his work: even on the page, there is often a sense of timing, staging, and dialogue shaped by a dramatist's instincts.

He died in New York City in 1953. Though he is less widely remembered now than some of his contemporaries, readers who enjoy classic mysteries and concise, skillful plays can still find a lot to like in his writing.