Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
© Philip Halling, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
Young William’s hat caught the eye of Matthew Boulton, and the world was never the same again.
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William Murdoch’s experiments with steam traction impressed his next-door neighbour, with world-changing results.
© Mike Quinn, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
Cuthbert trusted that keeping his promised fast would not do him any harm.
© N Chadwick, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
Mr Snawley has two stepsons he would like to offload, and Mr Squeers seems just the right person to help him.
© Jeff Buck, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
If Britain is a chessboard, then politicians should remember that the ‘pieces’ are alive, and they generally play a better game.
Via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Kate Nickleby must bite her lip as she experiences snobbery for the first time.