Non-Fiction

Most people learning or improving their English are in their teenage years or twenties. A lot of you have never heard of Frank Sinatra. But there are also students learning English because of a change in job, to make more of their holiday in an English-speaking country or just as a hobby. These people might be older. For them, Frank Sinatra was the star of many Hollywood films, the most famous singer of his generation and a sex symbol. Read about his surprising life, his suspected links with the Mafia and his fame (550 words).

T. E. Lawrence went to the best schools and was a promising academic at a great English university. He earned his place in history as a British soldier who led the Arabs to fight against the Ottoman Turks in the First World War. A man who was never comfortable with the British upper class, Lawrence found a home among the Bedouin but he lost it and his honour amongst the Arabs because he could not keep his promise. (1,100 words)

There is a statue of Nelson in the heart of London. It stands high above the buildings that surround it. It was built to show a nation’s love of one of its greatest military men – a sailor who beat Napoleon Bonaparte and stopped the French advance across Europe. But Nelson was not only a hero. He had a romance which was almost as famous as his battles (1,310 words).

On 26 December, 2004, a tsunami hit the coastlines of countries as far away from each other as Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India. More than a quarter of a million people died. Some were on holiday for the Christmas break but most lived in these areas. Their homes were destroyed; there were no roads or railways. But how did this terrible thing happen? (440 words).

Aileen Wournos was beaten and sexually abused as a child. She left home as early as she could and became a prostitute but later developed a warm relationship with another woman. Aileen murdered her male customers to get their money to buy her girlfriend presents but when she was caught, her lover sold her story to the newspapers (970 words).

Poe lived a disappointing life. He never made any money from his stories or poems and, when he got the chance to make good, he was always too drunk to take it. It is hard to know the truth about his life because he also lied all the time. However, his horror stories are considered masterpieces of American literature. This is the story of his extraordinary life and death. (1,600 words)

Country and western music is a major industry, especially in the United States, where it is popular all across the South. But its appeal is wider than just among cowboys. Although it was initially popular only among white people, that has changed in recent years as more and more radical artists have sung in the genre (860 words).

Sheepdogs. Why do they risk their lives to protect sheep? How does a sheepdog kill a wolf, one of the most dangerous animals in European forests? Why are some dogs great as guard dogs but cannot move sheep from one place to another? Read about shepherds’ relationship with their dogs and how they grow into such useful animals (1,050 words).

The mule is not a natural animal: it is a cross-breed between a donkey and a horse. It is useful to humankind though because it has the speed of one animal and the strength of the other. It is more intelligent than either of its parents, very loyal and extremely brave. Read about the remarkable history of this animal and its relationship to people (1,310 words).

You can go anywhere in the world and listen to Bob Marley. His songs of peace and freedom, his belief in Rastafarianism and his smoking of cannabis have made him instantly recognisable everywhere. But reggae has a long history and has influenced many other kinds of music. (900 words)

When Fidel Castro overthrew the government in Cuba and began to make his revolutionary society, he faced a problem at once: how to start the people working and stop them dancing. And the dance was salsa. Although salsa originated in Central and Latin America, it has spread all over the world and influenced many other genres. Read more about it here (1,160 words).

There’s a lot of talk these days about the state of the planet. Children at primary school learn about the dangers facing our forests and rivers, the effects of global warming on glaciers and ice. Yet we hear very little about clouds. This article explains to us the different types of clouds and their importance for humankind (900 words).

The Italian Fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini, called himself ‘Il Duce’ (or The Leader), just as his friend and ally Adolf Hitler used the German ‘Der Führer’. But he ended his days hanging upside down outside a petrol station. This is the story of his rise to power, government and death (2,070 words).

The Fall of Byzantine Constantinople and the Birth of Ottoman Istanbul. Istanbul is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. In 1453 it was called Constantinople but then Sultan Mehmet took it after a terrible battle that lasted many weeks and ended a thousand years of Byzantine rule. (1,520 words)

The ferret has sharp teeth and is very aggressive. It was used for many years to help humans hunt for food and to control vermin. It is not needed so much for that nowadays and is even considered a pest itself. An unfortunate outcome for an animal that has been our friend for so long. (910 words)