The Copybook

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

1117

© Hansvandervliet, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Heracles and the Cattle of Geryon Clay Lane

Heracles must get the better of a three-bodied giant and steal his cattle.

Read

1118

© Dave Croker, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

Pure Selfishness H. G. Wells

The brilliant but dangerously obsessive Dr Griffin decides that the end justifies the means.

Read

1119

Via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Arthur MacPherson Clay Lane

MacPherson’s tireless efforts to promote Russian sport earned him a unique Imperial honour, and the enmity of the Communists.

Read

1120

Via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Aspden Cup Clay Lane

British factory workers started a historic three-cornered league in the Russian city of St Petersburg.

Read

1121

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

Passover to Pentecost St Bede of Jarrow

St Bede explains how the Exodus and the Ten Commandments are related to Easter and Whitsuntide.

Read

1122

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

The Lion of Piraeus Clay Lane

A marble statue in Venice bears witness to Europe’s long history of brave defeats and fruitless victories.

Read