The Copybook

Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.

1399

Photo by Maesi64, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 1.0 Universal public domain dedication.

The Bishop’s Gambit Clay Lane

The mayor and bishop of Zakynthos went to extraordinary lengths to protect the most vulnerable people of their island.

Read

1400

© CHK46, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 4.0

The Falkland Islands Clay Lane

A proudly British group of islands far off in the South Atlantic.

Read

1401

© Chris Downer, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

The Lessons of History St Bede of Jarrow

England’s first and greatest historian explains why history is so important.

Read

1402

© Erlend Schei, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

Penicillin Clay Lane

An improbable chain of coincidences led to one of the great medical revolutions just when it was most needed.

Read

1403

© Tony Hisgett, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

First Impressions, Second Thoughts Jane Austen

Elizabeth Bennet began to wonder if being Mr Darcy’s wife might have had its compensations.

Read

1404

© Nic Redhead, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

The Ashes of English Cricket Clay Lane

How the cricketing rivalry between England and Australia got its name.

Read