The Copy Book

The Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Photo by Michael D. Beckwith. Public domain image. Source
Clay Lane

The Copy Book

A Library of History and Literature in English

November 14 November 1 OS

The Copy Book is an ever-growing library of short passages from history and literature, intended for practice in paraphrase and précis or simply for reading pleasure. They include brief summaries and eyewitness accounts of major events in our national history, and extracts from fables, poetry, plays, novels, political speeches and biography. Many were included by NL Clay in his anthologies of ‘straightforward English’.

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On This Day

November 14 ns

November 1 os

We keep civil anniversaries on the New Style date, and Church events on the Old Style. See About our calendars.

November 14 ns

The Siege of Arcot (1751) 1 post

The Siege of Arcot

Twenty-five-year-old Robert Clive’s extraordinary daring helped to prevent India falling into the hands of the French King.

Archive

What follows is an index to all 1580 posts in The Copy Book. You can keep up-to-date with new posts, and discover old posts you may have missed, with the Clay Lane Blog, where you will also find a selection of word games and exercises in grammar and composition.

The posts are currently listed most recent first. Use the buttons below to sort the posts alphabetically, or shuffle the list so you can find posts from right across the collection.

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1

Jack Cade’s Revolt

Jack Cade brought a protest to London with right on his side, but then threw it all away.

2

An Accident of Births

On the same day in 1537, so the story goes, two baby boys were born, but the similarity between them ended there.

3

A Word of Advice

Advice that is not based on honesty, humility and deep reflection is mere craft.

4

A Hot Tip

Benjamin Disraeli revealed the secret behind holding one’s place at the top of Parisian society.

5

Rest Cure

Whenever Charles Dickens felt his exhausting workload was starting to take its toll, he knew just what to do.

6

The Water Truce

The animals in the jungle agree that amidst the drought, the sport of hunter and hunted has to be suspended.