The Copybook

Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.

535

By Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827), via the Wellcome Collection and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Imperfect Government Algernon Sidney

Politicians who demand that everyone in the country unite behind their vision of society are standing in the way of real progress.

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536

© Julian Paren, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

Land of Opportunity Thomas Fuller

Edward III enticed over-regulated Dutch textile workers across the Channel with the promise of English beef and English beauties.

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537

By an Anonymous artist (British School), via the National Trust and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Woman in White Wilkie Collins

Walter Hartright tried to help a distressed woman find her way into London, but the incident has left him with nagging doubts.

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538

By Alexei Kondratievich Savrasov (1830–1897), via the Russian Museum and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Grendel’s Mother Zenaide Alexeievna Ragozin

After driving the man-eating ogre Grendel from Hrothgar’s hall, Beowulf must now deal with Grendel’s anguished and vengeful mother.

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539

By a follower of Francisco Goya, via the Museo del Prado and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Death Grip Zenaide Alexeievna Ragozin

The terrible monster Grendel, secure in the knowledge that no blade can bite him, bursts into Hrothgar’s hall expecting another meal of man-flesh.

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540

Anonymous (British School), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Fly on the Wall Sir Francis Bacon

Henry VII made sure that he had eyes and ears wherever they were needed to put an end to thirty years of political conspiracy.

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