All right, it's probably a bit late to start baking a cake on his behalf, but today marks the 138th anniversary of the birth of G. K. Chesterton, born May 29, 1874. It is still an event worth celebrating, given Chesterton's lasting contributions to the field of detective fiction, particularly his authorship of the Father Brown short stories. Chesterton was also the model - physical as well as in character - for John Dickson Carr's detective, Dr. Gideon Fell.

May I suggest, as a way of celebrating, that you read (or re-read) some of the Father Brown stories? There were 52, originally collected into five volumes. If you want something a little more off the beaten path, you might enjoy The Man Who Was Thursday, a journey into the surreal (to put it mildly); I reviewed that one on this blog last fall. I have always enjoyed Chesterton's stories and I recommend them highly.