The first of Father Brown. Humor, wit, whimsy, theology, invention, memorable characters. What more could you want?

Off to New Orleans this evening for two stories by the many-talented Alice Dunbar-Nelson.

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781) was one of the most influential figures of the European Enlightenment. Many of them were revered in their time. Lessing’s most famous play, Nathan the Wise, is accorded the compliment of being performed to this day.

Long available only in a very limited edition, here is Vincent Starrett’s affectionate and good-humored pastiche, a Sherlockian adventure set in the world of book collectors.

The immortal O. Henry takes us along for scams and the ethical ideas of two favorite confidence tricksters.

Tonight, one of Jack London’s greatest tales, this one from his time in the Klondike.

Stories tonight be two literary forerunners, celebrated both for their own creative achievements and for their influence on the next generation of writers.

Two short stories this evening by one of the celebrated French masters of the genre, Guy de Maupassant.

A funny, satirical, thoughtful, and memorable story by the author who invented the genre of fantasy fiction and who was once hugely popular but is now largely forgotten: Lord Dunsany (1878-1957).

Two fairy tales tonight: “The Happy Prince” and “The Selfish Giant,” by the incomparable Oscar Wilde.