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Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) remains one of the most popular of all English novelists. Many of his characters have become proverbial: Mr Micawber for naive optimism, Wackford Squeers for harsh school discipline, Uriah Heep for false humility, and of course Ebenezer Scrooge for misanthropy. His stories were one of the chief driving forces behind rising literacy in the Victorian age, and changes in public policy from schools to welfare and sanitation. All was done with charm, humour and common sense.

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The Harrying of the North

By Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens laments William the Conqueror’s brutal rampage through rebellious Durham and Yorkshire.

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Picture: From the Bayeux Tapestry Museum, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted August 17 2022

8

Hereward the Wake

By Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens tells the story of Hereward the Wake, the last Englishman to stand up to William the Conqueror.

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Source.

Posted August 14 2022

9

Mrs Nickleby’s Cold Cure

By Charles Dickens

Charmed by their attentions to her daughter Kate, Mrs Nickleby rewards Mr Pyke and Mr Pluck with a reminiscence about her favourite home remedy for colds.

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Picture: By Lovis Corinth (1858–1925), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted December 1 2021

10

‘Have a Care What You Do’

By Charles Dickens

Lord George Gordon marched at the head of 50,000 protestors to the House of Commons, to demand that George III’s England did not become like Louis XVI’s France.

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Picture: Thomas Rowlandson (1756–1827), Public domain.. Source.

Posted November 8 2021

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The Facts Factory

By Charles Dickens

Mr Gradgrind and a Government expert on education make sure that the children of Coketown have the right opinions about everything.

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Picture: © Ad Meskens, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.. Source.

Posted October 13 2021

12

The Squeers Method

By Charles Dickens

Mr Squeers explains his educational philosophy to his new and bewildered assistant master at Dotheboys Hall in Yorkshire.

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Picture: © Sergei Andreichuk, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.. Source.

Posted June 1 2021

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★ The Annunciation to Mary An angel appeared to Mary in her home in Nazareth, and offered her the chance to be part of nothing less than the reopening of the doors of Paradise.

For Today • March 25 • The Feast of the Annunciation to Mary

In This Sign Conquer Bishop Eusebius recalls what Constantine told him about the vision that brought him the crown.

Posted February 26 • The Copy Book

Phrases Use phrases such as ‘to the town’ in sentences, with nouns or with verbs.

Posted February 26

The Marks of a Tyrant Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle explains what it is that defines a tyranny.

Posted February 25 • The Copy Book

Keep It Short Plutarch argues that it when it comes to strong speech, less is always more.

Posted February 24 • The Copy Book

Anagrams Shuffle the letters of each of these words to make new ones. See if you can match the number indicated.

Posted February 23 • Think and Speak

Polyword: Mere Make as many words as you can using the letters of one nine-letter word. Can you beat our score?

Posted February 21 • Think and Speak

Go to the Ant Solomon recommends taking lessons from one of God’s smallest but most hard-working creatures.

Posted February 20 • The Copy Book

Chariots of Steam Erasmus Darwin imagines how steam power will change the world.

Posted February 16 • The Copy Book

Music Video Modest Mussorgsky: Sorochinsky Fair: Gopak

Posted February 16

Fragments Develop these short phrases into complete sentences.

Posted February 15 • Think and Speak

The Moral Case for Family Farms Richard Cobden called on Parliament to support small, family-owned farms.

Posted February 14 • The Copy Book

Hiawatha Takes a Photograph Lewis Carroll records a suburban photoshoot in the style of Longfellow.

Posted February 13 • The Copy Book

Nouns of Number William Cobbett gives his son James some helpful examples of collective nouns.

Posted February 13 • The Copy Book

Hiawatha’s Inspiration Henry Longfellow tells us how his tale of a heroic Native American warrior came to him.

Posted February 12 • The Copy Book

Near Synonyms These words have very similar meaning but they are not the same — can you show the difference?

Posted February 12

Music Video Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Hiawatha: And They Said Farewell Forever

Posted February 12

Music Video Leroy Anderson: Irish Suite: II. The Minstrel Boy

Posted February 11

The Travellers and the Axe Two men find an axe, and then find some trouble, but they aren’t keen on sharing either of them.

Posted February 11 • The Copy Book

Train

Posted February 9 • Think and Speak

The Prophecy of Peter of Pomfret Peter foretold that King John would cease to be England’s sovereign, and he was right, though John still wore his crown.

Posted February 9 • The Copy Book