Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
By William Beechey (1753-1839), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.
Charles Dickens sketches for us the shyly ingratiating youth who gets himself in a tangle in the presence of Beauty.
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© Imperial War Museums, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
The only truly global conflict in history began when German troops crossed into Poland in September 1939.
© Basher Eyre, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
To the poor of England, the Worcestershire man gave affordable pots and pans, and to all the world he gave the industrial revolution.
© ToucanWings, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.
After Louis XIV’s grandson Philip inherited the throne of Spain, the ‘Sun King’ began to entertain dreams of Europe-wide dominion.
By Gabriel von Max (1840-1915), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Charles Dickens believed that Britain’s Saxon invaders gained power by force of arms – but not by weapons.
© José Luíz, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.
A tenth-century Greek monk is joined by a total stranger for Mattins.