In the dark of night, one light still yet burns.

Frightened fingers tremble as brittle pages turn.

Fireside Mystery Theater presents The Midnight Reading,

a summer series of dramatic recitations of dark masterpieces in miniature

by the masters of the macabre.

Good evening.

I'm James Reeser.

And now, a tale of terror by Winston Churchill.

Winston Churchill?

That, Winston Churchill, you ask? Yes, that, Winston Churchill? That, Winston Churchill, you ask?

Yes, that Winston Churchill.

Yes, that same Winston Churchill who is best known as the Prime Minister who led Great Britain, its Commonwealth and Empire to victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

The very same Winston Churchill who was widely regarded as being among the

most influential people in British history, inspiring his nation's resistance against the threat

of Adolf Hitler with his compelling speeches and impassioned radio broadcasts.

He was an accomplished artist as well, who painted landscapes and other paintings, but what is not widely

known about Churchill is that he was also a prolific writer. In 1890, the curious horror short story,

Man Overboard, appeared in the Harmsworth magazine at a turning point in his career. He had been in the military since 1895,

resigned in 1890 and had his first run for political office that same year.

Despite its economy of language, this macabre little story

presents amazingly complex questions concerning the character of nature, the problem

of evil, and the nature of God. Here to read it for us is our own, Ms. Allie Silva.

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