The Copybook

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

1459

By William Simpson (1823-1899), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Crimean War Clay Lane

Hoping to please opinion at home, the French Emperor pressured the Turks into new outrages against their Christian population, and Russia hit back.

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1460

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

Belling the Cat Clay Lane

A council of mice comes up with a plan to outsmart the Cat, but volunteers are a bit thin on the ground.

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1461

© Phokion, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.

The Battle of Marathon Clay Lane

Remembered as the inspiration of the famous Olympic road race, but much more important than that.

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1462

© Olaf Tausch, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.

The Last Days of Socrates Clay Lane

Socrates was placed on death row while Athens celebrated a religious festival.

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1463

US Department of Defense, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

One Hand on the Throne Clay Lane

The Wars of the Roses pitted two royal houses against each other for the crown of England.

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1464

By Henry Arthur Payne (1868-1940), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Wars of the Roses Clay Lane

A struggle between rival Royal Houses begins in 1455, after questions are raised about King Henry VI’s capacity to rule.

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