By C. G. Botting, A. E. Hillard, Donald H. Hoffman

Description

Latin Readings for Review is a useful book to accompany and supplement any first-year Latin texts currently in use. The Latin is pure, simple, idiomatic, and easily understood by beginning high school and college students.

This book’s greatest accomplishment is in its masterful introduction of new grammatical forms and constructions one by one in a carefully graded order. A translation piece never includes a declined form or conjunction that the student has not already learned. The student is never overwhelmed or frustrated by the material, and is encouraged to continue the learning process. Each review features two readings: one on Roman history and another from Greek mythology.

Special Features

• 8 introductory Latin readings (with no macrons) of simple, related sentences
• 96 graded narrative Latin readings (with no macrons)
• Summary of grammatical forms
• Over 30 pages of inflection review
• Note on how to read abbreviations of Roman names
• General glossary
• Glossary keyed to individual readings

Author Bios

Albert Ernest Hillard was the High Master of St. Paul’s School from 1905–1927. Over the course of his career he wrote and edited numerous educational texts for students, including A Continuous Narrative of the Life of Christ in the Words of the Four Gospels (1903), A New Clarendon Press Series of Classical Authors Edited for Schools (1914), and Greek Prose Composition for Schools (1898). He frequently collaborated with his colleague Cecil Botting, and together they wrote Elementary Latin Exercises (1910), Graduated Latin Selections (1925), and Elementary Greek Translation (1923). Cecil George Botting was Assistant Classics Master at St. Paul’s school. In addition to teaching Latin, he also wrote and edited many textbooks. He is best known for his collaborative efforts with his colleague A. E. Hillard, but he also independently wrote Gender of Latin Substantives: Rules with Chief Exceptions (1902), Greek Vocabularies for Repetition (1919), and Easy Latin Exercises (1920), as well as editing Horati Carminum Liber I and II (1899, 1902). Donald H. Hoffman holds three masters degrees in Latin (DePaul University), Library Science (Dominican University), and Pastoral Studies (Loyola University Chicago). He has been teaching Latin for over fifty years, forty of which have been spent at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. He is the coeditor of Henle Latin I Experimental Edition and Henle Latin II Experimental Edition.

Comments and Reviews

This text could be very helpful to teachers wanting to offer interesting supplementary readings as an alternative to the often stilted material available for the beginning of the Latin reading experience. Its format provides most of what is needed — grammar, vocabulary, history, myth, and the ability to read Latin in a meaningful context.

— Fran Lanouette
NEC Newsletter

This elementary translation book is an ideal supplement to help strengthen grammatical concepts learned in First or Second Year Latin. The 96 passages progress in difficulty, not only reinforcing grammar, but also introducing students to Roman and Greek history, culture, and mythology. What makes this reader unique, though, is that the readings in each section correspond unerringly with a set of grammatical concepts. Thus, each passage will contain only the grammar learned up to that point, so students are not frustrated by an unfamiliar concept that they must figure out from context.

However, this reader is clearly a supplement for review, unsuited to serve as the sole means of instruction for a beginning student. The passages do not provide vocabulary or notes underneath, although the glossary contains every word and the grammatical appendix lists every chart. Moreover, there is no explanation of the grammar, only charts. As a means of reinforcing concepts, though, Latin Readings will do more than just ensure understanding of grammar. Students will find themselves immersed in the Greco-Roman world, figuring out the grammar to read of historical battles and people, daily life, and myths. It is ideal as a review of grammar at the beginning of the school year, before getting into the next level of Latin.

— Michelle Wu