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.

History of Africa

Mauled by a Lion

The villagers of Mabutso in Southern Africa begged Dr David Livingstone to rid them of a menacing pride of lions.

Length: 119 words

Extracts from Literature

‘Let’s Be a Comfortable Couple’

The offices of the Cheeryble Brothers are humming with excitement over two upcoming weddings, and Tim Linkinwater finds the mood is catching.

Length: 114 words

Character and Conduct

‘Come in and Know Me Better’

Mill owner William Grant was deeply hurt by a scurrilous pamphlet circulated by a fellow businessman, and vowed the miscreant would live to regret it.

Length: 115 words

Discovery and Invention

The Iron Seamstress

William Jerrold saw the new-fangled sewing machine as an opportunity to get women into the professions — but time was of the essence.

Length: 115 words

Extracts from Literature

A Literary Mystery

In 1798, ‘Plays on the Passions’ appeared in London bookstores, but no one seemed to know who had written them.

Length: 110 words

Music and Musicians

The Adjudicator

Composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor recalls his experiences as a judge in the distrustful world of music festivals and brass band contests.

Length: 114 words