Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
© milo bostock, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
Cromwell’s killjoys almost silenced the English Christmas, but thanks to a royal family tradition the message is still being proclaimed.
Read
© ceridwen, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
French revolutionaries in a fleet of four ships attempted to spark a revolution in Britain.
© Matt Riggott, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
The Puritans said it was unfit for God-fearing men, but George I thought it fit for a King.
© Sara Guasteví, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.
In England’s brief but dismal experiment as a Republic, Playford saved traditional English dance music from destruction.
© Vitum, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
The story of an unexpected escape through the heart of a hill.
From Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
‘Goodwill’ was on everyone’s lips, but the Roman Emperor and the God of Israel had very different ideas about it.