Sunday, September 6, 2026, is National Read a Book Day—and listening to an audiobook counts, which is remarkably convenient for someone who has narrated a few.

Today’s stories involve a ship abandoned before a famous voyage, an American general returning home with the enemy, and an ancient delivery that remained beneath London for eighteen centuries.

Today we explore the failed companion ship that left the Mayflower sailing alone, Benedict Arnold’s devastating attack on his home state, and the Roman cargo vessel discovered beside the River Thames.

Along the way, we meet birthday cartoonist Sergio Aragonés, who made the overlooked margins of MAD magazine as entertaining as the articles themselves.

Sometimes the part that doesn’t fit the original plan becomes the part everyone remembers.