Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
By William Barnes Wollen (1857–1936), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.
In August, 1775, King George III responded to the news of rebellion in the American colonies.
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© Karl and Ali, Geograph. CC BY-SA 2.0.
If he is going to drop him, the embattled poet would prefer his friend to get on with it.
© Number 10, Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.0.
We all want our politicians to be clever men, but being cunning isn’t the same as being wise.
© Tom Parnell, Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0.
The best holidays are the ones that make us long for home.
Photo by W. & D. Downey, via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 4.0.
Thomas Huxley believed that if schools did not ground their pupils in common sense, life’s examinations would be painful.
By Edward Ardizzone, via Wikimedia Commons. ? Public domain, or ? IWM Non Commercial Licence.
Sir Philip Sidney reminded comedians that when the audience is laughing they aren’t necessarily the better for it.