Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
© Gobbler, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.
The people of Rome suddenly turned their back on centuries of ‘sport’ - all because of one harmless old man.
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© Sylvia Duckworth, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
The Roman Emperor Honorius, so the story goes, had more on his mind than the impending sack of one of Europe’s iconic cities.
By TL. From Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Free Art Licence.
Hannibal’s crossing of the Alps with nearly 50,000 men and 38 elephants is the stuff of legend.
© Priasai, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Twenty-five-year-old Robert Clive’s extraordinary daring helped to prevent India falling into the hands of the French King.
© Serena, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
Cats do have a conscience: it tells them when to look innocent.
© Lisa Risager, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
When a cat comes into your life, resistance is futile.