Beginning Latin Poetry Reader: 70 Selections from the Great Periods of Roman Verse and Drama (Latin Readers

by Gavin Betts, Daniel Franklin

Embrace your Roman muse! As a learner of Latin, you want to experience the Roman world by reading its writers in their original language. But you may be unsure where to begin in the classical canon or you may worry that your Latin skills are insufficient to tackle authentic texts. Requiring only a grounding in the basics, Beginning Latin Poetry Reader lets you explore the rich and diverse range of Latin verse, including epics, comedies, satires, lyric poetry, and even graffiti! Inside you'll find seventy selections from authors of the early Republic such as Plautus and Terrance as well as those of the Golden and Silver Ages such as Vergil, Horace, Ovid, and Juvenal--all supported by helpful footnotes and English translations. This book also includes a clear overview of Latin syntax and the metrics of its verse, a glossary of all Latin words found in the readings, and a time line showing the historical and literary context of each author. Lose yourself

Genres: Classics, Poetry, Nonfiction, Language, Textbooks

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2005

About the author

Gavin Betts was Associated Professor of Classical Studies, Monash University, Victoria, Australia. His publications include Teach Yourself Latin, Teach Yourself New Testament Greek, Teach Yourself New Testament Greek and various translations of medieval and Modern Greek texts.

Reviews

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great, well thought-out volume, with only one drawback.

No matter which first-year Latin course you study, the transition to "real" Latin, especially poetry, is a jump that requires great care. This reader is sensible and densely-packed. Each of the 70 selections is interesting and lengthy. More importantly, the text contains:
a) a detailed appendix of prosody and grammar, keyed to the text to help the student reinforce and discover;
b) a hearty critical apparatus, usually covering more of the page than there is poetry. If you read this cover to cover, over a good period of time with other Latin work mixed in, you will learn a great deal of how the language was used in a literary context; and
c) full English translations in the back of the book, meaning this can be used by self-taught students or as a useful handbook for tutors and teachers.

As another reviewer noted, the decision not to include macrons is disappointing. I understand the argument against it, and all readers have to learn how to drop them at some point. But this book is for beginners, as per the title, and even if there had been a decision to use them for, say, the first half of the book, I think it would have been beneficial.

Highly worthwhile.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to Latin poetry . . . would be even better if it used macrons in the text (this is for beginners, after all)