The League of Nations mandates two authorities in Palestine, one Jewish, one Arab and the birthday club includes Miguel de Cervantes, Elizabeth Gaskell, Olive Dehn, and Barbara Mertz - with a reading from Cervantes' "Don Quixote."

Alexander Fleming discovers Penicillium and the birthday club includes Ben E. King and George W. S. Trow - with a reading from Trow's "Within the Context of No Context."

The governor of Missouri calls for the extermination of Mormons, a Soviet naval officer refuses to fire a nuclear torpedo, and it is the birthday of Sylvia Plath - with a reading from "The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath."

Rachel Carson publishes her world-changing book "Silent Spring." This episode looks at how Carson grew as a science writer capable of writing such a moving work.

Today's episode includes a reading from three pieces of writing, all by Rachel Carson.

Albert Einstein publishes his theory on special relativity, the Nazis issue a memo on the values of personal belongings of those sent to death camps, the first televised political debate was broadcast from Chicago, the Beatles release "Abbey Road," and it's Jane Smiley's birthday - with a reading of her take on book stores.

The U.S. adopts the Bill of Rights, Columbia's graduate school of journalism is established, the Little Rock Nine integrates their Arkansas high school, and the birthday club includes William Faulkner and Shel Silverstein - with a reading from Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury."

Gold panic gripped the U.S., the LDS church bans polygamy, a race riot convulses Atlanta, Devil's Tower is designated a national monument, and it is F. Scott Fitzgerald's birthday - with a reading from his classic "The Great Gatsby."

Norway and Sweden dissolve the bonds that made them one country and the birthday club includes John Lomax, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, and Ani DiFranco - with a reading from Lomax's "Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads."

The last victims of the Salem Witch Trials are executed, US Pres. Abraham Lincoln issues his Emancipation Proclamation, and the birthday club includes Elizabeth Simcoe, Eric Baker, and Joan Jett. This episode includes a reading from Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels."

Benedict Arnold betrays George Washington and the American colonists fighting the Revolutionary War. The birthday club includes H. G. Wells, Allen Lane, Chuck Jones, Leonard Cohen, and Stephen King - with a reading from Wells' "The Time Machine."