Clay Lane › The Copy Book

Passages for reading. Read them out aloud. Paraphrase or précis them. Discuss them with friends. Does anything surprise or impress you? How does the author work your feelings? Would you use his words? How would you direct the scene in a movie — and who would your stars be?

More …

On This Day

Sunday September 8 ns August 26 os

For Church feasts falling on September 8 in the New Style calendar, see The Feast of Nativity of the Virgin Mary and Finding of the Kursk icon.

August 26, 1395 os

Meeting of the ‘Vladimir’ Icon (1)

The Theotokos of Vladimir

It is one of the world’s most recognisable works of art, and a symbol of God’s blessing on all Christian Rus’.

September 8, 1380

The Battle of Kulikovo (1)

Dmitri of the Don

Grand Duke Dmitri of Moscow loosened the grip of the Tartar Horde on the people of Russia, but treachery robbed him of triumph.

by Lucy Cazalet 1870-1956

Recently Added

See all

International Relations

A Credit to His Country

The diplomat’s task is to see the best in other peoples, not to scold them for their failings.

by François de Callières 1645-1717

Lives of the Saints

The Synod of Whitby

In 664, a council at Whitby decided to align the traditions of the Northumbrian Church with those of Rome and Constantinople.

by John Richard Green 1837-1883

From the Archive

See all

Lives of the Saints

Breaking Death

For Jesus Christ to step down alive from his cross would have been a mighty miracle, but not the mightiest.

by Elfric of Eynsham 955-1010

Bible Stories Retold

The Adoration of the Magi

Persian star-gazers hasten to Israel for the birth of a royal heir, but find that King Herod has had his fill of them.

Norman Era

Home from Home

In Constantinople, capital of the Roman Empire, a man from Kent founded a glittering church for English refugees.

by Goscelin of Canterbury fl. 1060-1107

Education

The Dogmatist

Schools inspector Edmond Holmes expressed frustration with those who think that society at large owes them unthinking obedience.

by Edmond Gore Alexander Holmes 1850–1936

See All Posts (1522)

Selected Authors

See all

Jawaharlal Nehru

The Battle of the Nile

Sir Charles Villiers Stanford

Musical Appreciation

Mandell Creighton

National Sympathy

A. G. Gardiner

My Heart’s Right There

St Bede of Jarrow

The Lion and the Lamb

Lewis Carroll

The White Queen’s Riddle

See all Posts by Author

Selected Topics

See all

The British Constitution

Passages examining Britain’s sometimes baffling constitutional monarchy, and telling the story of its enemies, its champions, and its reformers.

See all (32)

The USA

Tales from our cousins to the West, telling of their independence from Britain, their bloody civil war, and their runaway prosperity — and the slender thread by which it hangs.

See all (14)

International Relations

Britain has always demanded respect, open seas, and to be left in peace to ‘work out our own salvation’ — a courtesy we should extend to others.

See all (41)

Liberty and Prosperity

Stories from Britain and elsewhere confirming the social and economic benefits of keeping Governments and their cronies out of the trade and business of ordinary people.

See all (170)

Sport and Sportsmen

Stories from the world of cricket, football and other sports, and the men and women who have played them.

See all (27)

Extracts from Fiction

Romance, adventure and comedy from the very best fiction writers, including Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, Charles Dickens, John Buchan, and many more.

See all (109)

See All Topics (A-Z)

The Copy Book

Readings in history, society and literature

The Copy Book

Readings in history, society and literature