Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
© Dave and Margie Hill, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0
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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Via Wikimedia Commons.
A Cornish professor of chemistry with a poetic turn who helped make science a popular fashion.
© Bill Henderson, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
The engineer put his own life on the line for the safety of his fellow-workers in the coal industry.
© Sander van der Wel, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
A misfit duckling grew up with rejection as a way of life, until he thought all hope was gone.
© H. Zell, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.
A prince falls for a dazzling dance-partner who teasingly vanishes at midnight.
© Andrew Curtis, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
The most important English-born composer of Handel’s day, known for his tuneful music and very busy diary.