Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
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By an Anonymous artist (1816), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
The night before the Comte de Lavalette was to be executed, his wife Émilie came to visit him with a proposal that left him speechless.
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© Oscar Sir Avendaño (artist), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
The fandango is Spain’s most alluring national dance, and the story goes that even the most solemn clergyman could not resist it.
© James Petts, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
In the family of Samuel Pepys, the Feast of the Epiphany was kept with music, cake and quaint traditions.
By Frederick Piercy (1830—1891), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Once railway engineer Thomas Brassey made a promise he kept it — even if he wasn’t aware that he’d made one.
By Hieronymus Bosch (?1450-1516), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Clever people have realised that it is easier to get people on your side by mockery than by persuasion.
© Aleda12, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
John of Gaunt tries to persuade his son Henry that banishment from England isn’t such a bad thing, if you think about in the right way.