Reading Latin: Grammar, Vocabulary and Exercises

Product Review

Reading Latin is a Latin course designed to help mature beginners read Latin fluently and intelligently, primarily in the context of classical culture, but with some mediaeval Latin too. It does this in three ways; it encourages reading of continuous texts from the start; it offers generous help with translation at every stage; and it integrates the learning of Classical Latin with an appreciation of the influence of the Latin language upon English and European culture from Antiquity to the present. The text, richly illustrated, consists at the start of carefully graded adaptations from original Classical Latin texts. The adaptations are gradually phased out until unadultered prose and verse can be read. The Grammar, Vocabulary and Exercises volume supplies all the help needed to do this, together with a range of reinforcing exercises for each section, including English into Latin for those who want it. At the end of each section, a selection of Latin epigrams, mottoes, quotations, everyday Latin, word-derivations, examples of mediaeval Latin and discussions of the influence of Latin upon English illustrate the language's impact on Western culture. Reading Latin is principally designed for university and adult beginners, and also for sixth-formers (eleventh and twelth graders in the USA). It is also ideal for those people who may have learned Latin many years ago, and wish to renew their acquaintance with the language. Its companion course, Reading Greek is one of the most widely used mature beginners' courses in the world.

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review

(9 customer reviews)

67 of 74 people found the following review helpful

This book rescued me from complete ignorance of Latin, July 21, 2000

K. Farrington (Missegre, France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reading Latin: Grammar, Vocabulary and Exercises (Paperback)

I am one of those mature students who did not make out at school and found to my regret that I had hit my forties without achieving any academic qualifications. I studied Philosophy at Bachelors' and Masters' levels when I discovered I wanted to ultimately study mediaeval philosophy at Doctorate level. However, I had zilch Latin and Greek, for I was like the majority of my generation (the ones who had not paid to go to school) and had been denied these subjects at grade school. At the level I was now studying, I needed to read the original texts in Latin and this way was barred to me at that time. I ceased my academic philosophy studies and tried to acquire the necesssary Latin skills in order to read these texts. I tried various grammars and struggled until I came across this book and another set with which I worked a deux: 'the Cambridge Latin Course'. I will talk about the Cambridge course elsewhere. 'Reading Latin' consists of various texts from Latin authors like...Read more

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful

No better way to learn Latin, January 14, 2001

Bob (Perth, Western Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reading Latin: Grammar, Vocabulary and Exercises (Paperback)

This is the companion volume to Reading Latin, by the same authors (q.v.). This volume contains the vocabularies for the reading exercises in Reading Latin, as well as the grammar for each section and copious exercises. The combination is a thorough and effective way to learn Latin while introducing you to some of the best of Latin literature. The vocabularies are cleverly constructed so that you build up a good core vocabulary, without producing ridiculously simple reading sections by trying to keep the vocabulary too restricted. A hint: the authors suggest you don't do all the exercises, but choose a few. You'll do much better if you do most, if not all, of them. Secondly, the course is not called Reading Latin for nothing. There are exercises in translating from English to Latin, but if you want to write Latin, you would be better off with a Latin Prose Composition course. Latin is not an easy language and all language learning takes time. The whole Reading Latin Course...Read more

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful

A reader from FL, March 23, 2000

T. A. (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reading Latin: Grammar, Vocabulary and Exercises (Paperback)

If you are in search of a great book that will help you in your quest to learn to Read Latin, then, this is the book for you! The information provided is thorough, and organized in a way that every philologist will appreciate. It covers Latin grammar and vocabulary in a section by section manner, with each section building on the previous section learned. Each section follows the same format: Latin running vocabulary, learning vocabulary, and grammar, in addition to other helps such as "word building," "everyday Latin," and "Real Latin." Then, continues on with the following exercises that reinforce the students growing knowledge of Latin: Morphology (translating English into Latin), Reading (translation of Latin text using correct grammar), and English-Latin (translating Latin into English). This text also provides a "Glossary of English-Latin Grammar," "Total Latin-English Learning Vocabulary," "Total...Read more