Reading Latin: Text

This is the companion volume to Reading Latin: Grammar, Vocabulary, Exercises (GVE), and there is an independent Study Guide which isn't necessary but is extremely useful, so you do need to get the full set. As reviwer Grainger below has said, the text doesn't contain translations but these ARE in the independent study guide together with the answers to all the exercises in GVE. If you're learning alone (or even in a class) the 3rd volume is therefore indispensable.

The Text is brilliant if you're interested in classical latin since it includes 'real' (though initially adapted) latin from authors such as Plautus, Cicero, Sallust, Caesar, Vergil and Catullus. With the help of the GVE you'll be reading Plautus from day 1, and will be moving on to Cicero (unadapted but the more difficult passages cut out) and Sallust by year 2.

To get a rough guide, this course takes about 2 years (more flexible obviously if you're learning alone) and covers what approximates to a GCSE in the first year (sections 1-3) and an A-level in the 2nd year (section 4-6), or the equivalent of Beginners (year 1) and Intermediate (year 2) latin at university.

For me the real value of this text is that it's short and light enough to carry around (unlike the hefty GVE!) so that you can read/re-read the texts on the Tube or wherever to really reinforce both your vocabulary and sense of latin as a language.

As other reviewers have mentioned this isn't a frivolous, lets-have-fun approach to learning latin, it expects commitment and hard work on the part of the student. But if you really do want to learn latin then I recommend this absolutely above any of the more 'fun' approaches.

No Translations Make the Book Useless (2/5 people found this helpful)

This book contains all the Latin texts that relate to the other two books in the series, 'Grammar, Vocabulary and Exercises' and the 'Study Guide'. However, I'm surprised that none of the other reviewers have commented that the Text book contains no translations for the exercises. This makes the book, in my view, all but useless to the student. How can a student know if he or she has translated the text correctly without being able to check against a 'model answer'? Clearly they can't, rendering this book a waste of money. This is a serious omission by the Peter Jones and Keith Sidwell who produced this course.

Intimidating but excellent (17/19 people found this helpful)

First thing first . Learning latin is not an easy task, and this is by far not the kind of language you can master with a minimum of work and effort. It has a lot of grammar and mastering its syntaxis can be daunting task.
Having said that, if your goal is simply to have a basic knowledge of latin and have a bit of fun along the way.. sorry but get another textbook, like the hilarious serie "So, You Really want to learn Latin" or the great "Cambridge Latin course".
Now ...
If you have decided to tackle Latin and give it some time, efforts and concentration, then this book along with its companion volumes "Reading Latin : Grammar, vocabulary and exercices" and the very helpful companion self study guide "Reading Latin : A self study guide" is all you will ever need to be able to get a very good knowledge of the language;
Yes, I admit, when I got these 3 books in front of me, my first reaction was " OK.. now. what am I supposed to do with them ??? " .
Just read the introductions.. it will all fall into place, and before you know it, you'll get your head down, reading and understanding the first lesson.

I must say that the grammarical explanations are easy to understand, even if you're not used to learning a new language.. There are loads of exercices to practice, what you've just learned, and the self study guidebook helps you through the whole process.. which means that, unless you're not really paying attention to what you've been studying, it's very hard to get lost and give up.. because, no matter what mistakes you're making or whatever the problem is.. you can easily go back to it and give it a secund look..

Yes, it is a classical study book, so no coloured pictures in it, it s all in black and white and it is also, a bit of an investment to make..

But if you're REALLY eager to read Cicero, Cesar, Virgil or any medieval writers in its original language.. then don't look anywhere else.. This is the textbook to get

Dry & Intimidating (9/12 people found this helpful)

In many ways, I think that Reading Latin is more suited to independent learning than to (its intended) use as a textbook. People studying the language in their own time can enjoy translating Plautus, Cicero and the rest: in a large group, these translations can be nerve-wracking for students who fear making mistakes, and often leave no clear impression of what the plays and speeches are actually about. The text also introduces new grammar at a fast rate, encouraging lecturers to pass over the more amusing features of the book, such as the lists of short Latin mottoes and quotations at the end of every chapter segment. A home-learner need only move on to new tenses, declensions etc. when he or she feels ready to do so, and in the meantime is more at liberty to study the sections intended to give relief from the monotony of the grammar.

I have spent one semester at university studying with this textbook, and from now on I think I will be sticking to Minimus. The Reading Latin books may be suited to some Latin learners, but have unfortunately put me off the language.

No better way to learn Latin (59/60 people found this helpful)

This book, and its companion volume Reading Latin: Grammar, Vocabulary and Exercises, constitute in my opinion the best way to learn Latin for the university or adult learner. The programme is designed to build a good reading knowledge of Latin, and many of the earlier exercises are designed to help the learner read the Latin sentence in the order in which the words are presented. The Reading Latin volume contains a series of reading extracts, initially simplified, then moving closer to the original Latin as the book progresses. The first chapters draw their material from the plays of Plautus, then from speeches of Cicero and Sallust's history of the Catilinarian conspiracy. The final chapter contains a variety of original Latin pieces from the major Latin authors. All these are read with the grammar and vocabulary help from the companion volume - you need both. There is a very comprehensive range of exercises in the companion volume, and although the authors recommend choosing from them, you really need to do most of them to get full value from the course.

This course follows the format of the same authors' Reading Greek. I did the first half of the course by myself, and the second half through a second year Latin course at the University of Western Australia. You can learn Latin by yourself with this course, though you definitely benefit from having an instructor to explain the subtleties. The Independent Study Guide to Reading Latin has now been produced, and is very useful for those studying by themselves.

I've tried several approached to Latin over the years, and this is the one that worked for me. A major reason is that the course is constructed so that you can feel yourself making progress, and the extracts themselves are inherently interesting, as well as providing an introduction to Latin literature.

Peter V. Jones, Keith C. Sidwell

Reader Reviews:

Excellent (1/1 people found this helpful)

No Translations Make the Book Useless (2/5 people found this helpful)

Intimidating but excellent (17/19 people found this helpful)

Dry & Intimidating (9/12 people found this helpful)

No better way to learn Latin (59/60 people found this helpful)

Similar Products

Categories