Let's make this birthday one to remember.

85 years old (Born on January 23, 1940)

Happy Birthday, Alan Cheuse! May your day be filled with more excitement than a plot twist in one of your novels. From "To Catch the Lightning" to "Song of Slaves in the Desert," you've captivated readers and critics alike, proving that literary brilliance never goes out of style.

Your insightful contributions to The New Yorker, Ploughshares, and Antioch Review have left us all richer—and slightly intimidated by your talent. Here's hoping this birthday brings you as much joy as you've brought readers over the years. Keep writing those masterpieces; after all, great literature ages like fine wine—just like you!