Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
From ‘The Book of the Cat’, by Frances Simpson (1903).
Victorian cat-lover Harrison Weir launches into his favourite subject, but finds his audience growing restive.
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By Felix Nadar (1820-1910), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Pauline de Meulan’s magazine Publiciste was close to going out of business when an anonymous contributor stepped in.
© Carine06, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
Sherlock Holmes has been engaged to find a missing thoroughbred, but seems more interested in some lame sheep and an idle dog.
© Bob Jones, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
Wonder spread through a Tyneside monastery after Bishop Cuthbert asked for a drink of water.
By William Hodges (1744-1797), via the British Library and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
The East India Company installed Mir Kasim as Nawab of Bengal, only to find that he had a mind of his own.
© Ji-Elle, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.
Joseph’s brothers decide they have had enough of their rival in their father’s affections.