Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
© Thermos, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.5.
The leader of 5th-century BC Athens lavished public money on the city and its adoring citizens, and wherever he led they followed.
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© frielp, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
A little fable of encouragement for all the suffering.
© Nonnietang, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.
Michael Faraday showed that gases could be compressed and evaporated to preserve food and make ice.
© Mike Quinn, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
The prospect of facing daunting odds made his cousin quail, but Henry V acted like a true King.
By William Simpson (1823-1899), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Hoping to please opinion at home, the French Emperor pressured the Turks into new outrages against their Christian population, and Russia hit back.
© Juanedc, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
A council of mice comes up with a plan to outsmart the Cat, but volunteers are a bit thin on the ground.