There is a man in London I guess he is still in London, though I have not had news of him in months hell be useful to you, Penn, if you ever need help. And so begins this story. It is impossible not to be thrilled by Edgar Wallace. Penelope of the Polyantha is a crime novel by this pioneer of detective fiction. One of the most prolific writers of the twentieth century, Edgar Wallace was an immensely popular author, who created exciting thrillers spiced with tales of treacherous crooks and hard-boiled detectives. During the peak of his success during the 1920s, it was said that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him. Many of his novels were made into films and TV dramas.