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.

Lives of the Saints

Cuthbert and the Expert Witness

A hungry monk thought he had got away with the tastiest of crimes, but St Cuthbert kept his promise to his beloved birds.

Length: 58 words

Lives of the Saints

Cuthbert and the Weary Hawk

A bird of prey shattered the peace of St Cuthbert’s island, and was taught an unforgettable lesson.

Length: 61 words

Discovery and Invention

The Tanfield Railway

Opened in 1725, the Tanfield Railway is one of the oldest railways still operating anywhere in the world.

Length: 51 words

Stories in Short

The Tragedy of Hamlet

The Prince of Denmark is bound to avenge his father’s murder.

Length: 107 words

Stories in Short

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Is an old family legend being used as a cover for a very modern murder?

Length: 105 words

Liberty and Prosperity

A Nation’s Wealth

It is not politicians and their policies that create wealth, but the hard work and ingenuity of ordinary people.

Length: 57 words