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

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559

By Adolph von Menzel (1815–1905), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Tone Deaf by J. R. Sterndale Bennett

Joseph Joachim was regarded by most people in Europe as the greatest violinist ever, but in the home of Sterndale Bennett there was a dissenting voice.

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560

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

‘There is No Precedent for Such a Thing!’ by Elbert Green Hubbard

When Elizabeth Fry asked if she could lead prayers for the women inside Newgate gaol, the Governor was momentarily confused.

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561

© Qazwsx777, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

A New Year’s Resolution by Charles Dickens

Toby ‘Trotty’ Veck used to love hearing the church bells ring the New Year in, but now the chimes make him feel guilty, and afraid for the world.

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562

© John Sutton, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

Ranji’s Revenge by W. G. Grace

Cricketing legend W. G. Grace tells a story illustrating how fellow-batsman K. S. Ranjitsinhji set about winning the hearts of English cricketers.

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563

© Pavan Kumar N, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0 Generic.

Snake Eyes by Rudyard Kipling

Rikki-tikki-tavi had never met a cobra before, but when the first thrill of fear had passed he knew what he must do.

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564

By George Cruikshank (1792–1878), from the Bodleian Libraries via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Bungling Tinkers! by Sir Sidney Low

Sir Sidney Low blamed the recent catalogue of war and revolution on out-of-touch diplomats who had tried to hammer the peoples of Europe into artificial unity.

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© Nicholas Armitage / Clay Lane, 2025

May 29 NS

May 16 OS

The Last Commandment : Anglo-Saxon poet Cynewulf imagines the farewell between Jesus and his Apostles, forty days after his resurrection.
The Fall of Constantinople : Hospitality and sympathy, but no help - the Byzantine Emperor learns a bitter lesson about western diplomacy.
The Royal Oak : In 1680, Samuel Pepys sat down with Charles II to record how, many years before, a bold double-bluff saved the King from Cromwell’s men.
Lost and Found : What would you in these difficult situations?
They Might Not Need Me : Read these lines of verse out aloud.
The Turn : Ben Jonson tells us how we should measure a life well lived.
Music Video : Julius Benedict, Piano Concerto in E flat: II. Andante,
The Character of George Washington : Thomas Jefferson recalls the virtues (and a few faults) of the first US President.
Amen to That : John Bright declared it was time stop fighting wars around the world for ‘British interests’.
Arena : Use these nouns in sentences of at least ten words in length.
Q & A :
Deep Harmony : In the midst of the US Civil War, a simple melody briefly brought the warring factions together.
Thirty Minutes : Describe half an hour in one of these places.
And is there Care in Heaven? : Sir Guyon lies in an enchanted swoon, but he is not without help.
Pirate : For each of these words, suggest others that seem to go with it, and use them to bring a scene to life.
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