Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
© Bubo, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Britain never knew she was a nation of voracious readers until printing entered the steam age.
Read
© Penny Mayes, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
Julius Caesar came over from France expecting to silence the noisy neighbours, but things did not go according to plan.
© David Dixon, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
A poem about the blessing of fond memories.
© TheTurfBurner, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
The heroic and charismatic statesman’s last journey was replete with echoes of his extraordinary life.
© Theoden sA, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Intellectual learning is to be respected, but it should never be confused with good character.
© David Wright, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
The Whitby man held his nerve to keep five enemy ships busy at Trafalgar, and subsequently led Nelson’s funeral procession.