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

The Rochdale Pioneers

In 1843, a group of working men gathered in Rochdale to discuss how to ease the cost of living for their families, and the Co-op was born.

Length: 166 words

Aesopica

The Fisherman’s Net

A little fable from ancient Greece about those political activists who make a living from stirring up controversy.

Length: 60 words

Extracts from Fiction

Powder Keg

Overwhelmed by a London wedding, William Marston seeks safety in the company of a children’s nurse, but safety is not what he finds.

Length: 118 words

Free Trade and Markets

A Conflict of Interest

Economist Adam Smith warned that when Western commercial interests get involved in policy-making abroad, war and want are sure to follow.

Length: 116 words

British National Character

Unsuitable for Export

Our peculiar brand of democracy and liberty is a noble thing, but we should be wary of recommending it to other countries.

Length: 119 words

Indian History

The Indian Mutiny

The Indian Mutiny began with a revolt among disgruntled soldiers, and ended with the making of the British Raj.

Length: 169 words