The Copybook

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

1483

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

The Martyrdom of St Stephen Clay Lane

Stephen was the first person to lose his life because he was a follower of Jesus Christ.

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1484

© Dave and Margie Hill, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0

Heracles and the Hydra Clay Lane

The Greek hero thinks he has paid off more of his debt to the gods, but an unpleasant surprise awaits him.

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1485

Via Wikimedia Commons.

Sir Humphry Davy Clay Lane

A Cornish professor of chemistry with a poetic turn who helped make science a popular fashion.

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1486

© Bill Henderson, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

The Geordie Lamp Clay Lane

The engineer put his own life on the line for the safety of his fellow-workers in the coal industry.

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1487

© Sander van der Wel, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

The Ugly Duckling Clay Lane

A misfit duckling grew up with rejection as a way of life, until he thought all hope was gone.

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1488

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

Cinderella Clay Lane

A prince falls for a dazzling dance-partner who teasingly vanishes at midnight.

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