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.

Abolition of Slavery

Master and Slave

A runaway slave is recaptured, and charged with ingratitude by the master who has taken such pains to afford him economic security.

Length: 119 words

Bible and Saints

‘What Shall I Do?’

John Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ opens with Christian wondering how to convince his wife that their town and their family are in immediate danger.

Length: 115 words

Education

Free to Grow

Edmond Holmes, a former inspector of schools, reported back to the Board of Education on a pioneering system being developed in Italy.

Length: 51 words

Education

Lilies of the Field

Norman Leys complained that policymakers in Africa were interested more in training loyal and industrious workers than in nurturing free peoples.

Length: 116 words

Lives of the Saints

The Conversion of Guthlac

Inspired by an avid interest in English warrior heroes, the fifteen-year-old Guthlac recruited a band of freebooting militiamen.

Length: 117 words

Lives of the Saints

Guthlac, Pega and the Blind Boatman

St Pega welcomed a royal servant with a serious eye condition to the monastery founded by her brother, St Guthlac.

Length: 59 words