Minis
Mini Copy Book

Each post in this section is a short précis (summary) of a passage in The Copy Book. All of them are in modern English. They are intended for students of English as a Foreign Language at Elementary Level.

Liberty and Prosperity

A Little Common Sense

William Pitt the Elder doubts the wisdom of letting experts run the country.

Length: 58 words

International Relations

The Jealousy of Trade

David Hume encourages politicians to put away their distrust of other countries, and allow free trade to flourish.

Length: 57 words

Music and Musicians

Benno Moiseiwitsch

One of the twentieth century’s greatest pianists, who put himself and his art at the service of his adopted country.

Length: 59 words

Russian Myths and Legends

The Peasant, the Penny and Marko the Rich

Marko adopts drastic measures to get out of repaying the loan of a penny.

Length: 116 words

Greek History

Demetrius the Diver

A survivor of the infamous massacre of Chios in 1821 goes to Marseilles, but discovers he has not entirely left the Turks behind.

Length: 104 words

Lives of the Saints

Aaron’s Rod

The Victorian practice of hanging sugared nuts on a Christmas tree was bursting with Biblical symbolism.

Length: 60 words