The Mystery of Marie Roget is a compelling detective story by Edgar Allan Poe, featuring the brilliant sleuth C. Auguste Dupin. Based on a real-life unsolved murder, the story follows Dupin as he investigates the mysterious disappearance and death of Marie Roget, a young woman whose body is found floating in the Seine River. With his signature analytical mind, Dupin pieces together the clues from news reports and witness testimonies to uncover the truth. Poe’s tale is an early example of forensic detective work, blending fact and fiction to create a suspenseful and methodical investigation.

The Sad Story of a Dramatic Critic by H.G. Wells is a humorous yet bittersweet tale that explores themes of ambition, failure, and the often harsh reality of artistic criticism. The story follows a theater critic who, after years of critiquing the work of others, decides to try his hand at writing a play of his own. Convinced of his own brilliance, he is unprepared for the harsh reception his work receives when it is staged. The experience leaves him humbled, as he realizes the difficulty of creating art and the pain of facing criticism himself. Through this ironic twist, Wells offers a wry commentary on the fine line between being a critic and a creator, as well as the universal experience of facing one’s own limitations.