Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
© TatianaHepplewhite, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
In 664, a council at Whitby decided to align the traditions of the Northumbrian Church with those of Rome and Constantinople.
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By John William Waterhouse (1849–1917), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Juliet complains that the man she loves has the wrong name, and the man she loves hears her doing it.
By Bruno Liljefors (1860–1939), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
John Gay reflects that in matters of friendship, quality is preferable to quantity.
By Michiel Sweerts (1618-1664), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
A destitute and friendless farmer, turned from the tradesman’s entrance, tries his luck at the front door.
By Charles Sillem Lidderdale (1831-1895), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
When she was ten, Catherine Morland showed none of the qualities needed to impress the ladies who read romantic fiction.
By John William Waterhouse (1849-1917), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Sir Edward Leithen finds himself revising his opinion of the ‘detestable’ Koré Arabin.