Introduction
The Copy Book is a collection of short passages. Following the example of NL Clay’s anthologies, they set before the reader examples of straightforward English, draw attention to the way past generations thought about problems we still struggle with today, and place famous people, events and literature in their historical context.
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IN bygone years, a copybook was an essential tool in learning to write in a fair hand. At the head of each page, the writing tutor would inscribe a short sentence, usually a common sense proverb or aphorism of some kind, and the pupil would repeatedly copy it until he had mastered the letters. See The Gods of the Copybook Headings by Rudyard Kipling.
On Clay Lane, the Copy Book is a little different. It is a library of very short passages in English, drawn from history, biography, politics, legend, fiction and poetry. However, the principle is much the same. The idea is that the student of English should use these passages to practise writing good, plain, correctly spelled and punctuated English. If our society is to hold together, we must all be able to communicate without discomfort to ourselves or to others, despite the various accents, dialects and languages which are such an attractive feature of our country. Self-expression brings duties as well as rights, and the conventions of plain, correct, clearly-spoken English help us to do our duty by our neighbours.
Many of the passages are in old-fashioned English. If ordinary people do not learn to be comfortable with early modern English, whole shelves of literature will be closed to them. Such treasures should not be reserved for a privileged few, which they will be if they are not openly and universally read and discussed by all, because that will give the privileged a sense of power and of superiority, which is a very corrupting thing.
Nor should we suppose that past ideas on history, politics, science or culture are no longer relevant. Modern problems are really human problems, little changing over the centuries. Many of the political mistakes we grumble about have been made time and again before. Experts gain in knowledge over time, but not always in sound judgment; indeed, the sheer volume of knowledge becomes so oppressive that it is tempting to let prejudice, fashion or party politics act as a filter. It is not that we should to return to past ideas, rather that a sensitive awareness of past ideas and of the men and women who held them helps us think more creatively about our future, and assess the many voices claiming that they have the key to it.
My model has been Clay’s anthologies of prose and verse, but I have made my own selections and abridgements, and instead of exercises in analysis and comprehension I have focused on exercises in creative writing, as this felt more suitable for an adult audience. I have also added some explanatory notes, for unusual words or for historical and literary allusions. Some of the passages I have written myself, albeit reluctantly. Often, a topic seemed too important to ignore, but a passage of suitable length in the public domain, and by a recognised writer, simply could not be found.