The Copybook

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

1429

© frielp, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

The Knight, the Lady, and the Forest of Sorrow Clay Lane

A little fable of encouragement for all the suffering.

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1430

© Nonnietang, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.

How the British Invented Cool Clay Lane

Michael Faraday showed that gases could be compressed and evaporated to preserve food and make ice.

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1431

© Mike Quinn, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

‘Not one more!’ William Shakespeare

The prospect of facing daunting odds made his cousin quail, but Henry V acted like a true King.

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1432

By William Simpson (1823-1899), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Crimean War Clay Lane

Hoping to please opinion at home, the French Emperor pressured the Turks into new outrages against their Christian population, and Russia hit back.

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1433

© Juanedc, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

Belling the Cat Clay Lane

A council of mice comes up with a plan to outsmart the Cat, but volunteers are a bit thin on the ground.

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1434

© Phokion, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.

The Battle of Marathon Clay Lane

Remembered as the inspiration of the famous Olympic road race, but much more important than that.

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