Essential Latin [Paperback]

G.D.A. Sharpley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 16, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0415213207 | ISBN-13: 978-0415213202 | Edition: 2Rev Ed

This is the ideal introduction, or re-introduction, to the world of ancient Rome for students and armchair enthusiasts alike. With a modern, user-friendly approach, the author presents a comprehensive survey of the language, life, history and customs of a culture that continues to influence our own.
Through a variety of authentic texts, the student is guided through the mechanics of Latin, whilst gaining an insight into the glory that was Rome, its power struggles and the eventual fall of the empire. The writings of Virgil, Cicero, Juvenal and many others appear in the original Latin with accompanying translations. Further features include:
* exercises with full answer key
* notes on the authors
* summary of dates and events
* grammar glossary and tables
An accompanying 1x60 minute cassette is also available, featuring texts in Latin from the book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Essential Latin combines the reading method with traditional approaches in an interesting and refreshing format...it has something for everyone and is likely to attract a loyal following..
–Religious Studies Review, January 2002

About the Author

G. D. A. Sharpley is a lecturer, editor, and translator for Multilingua, a language center in Bristol, England. His Latin books enjoy worldwide popularity, including Teach Yourself Beginner's Latin (1997) and the first edition of Essential Latin, Latin Better Read Than Dead (1994).

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 2Rev Ed edition (December 16, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415213207
• ISBN-13: 978-0415213202
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,199,002 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Indispensable Pedagogical Tool, June 9, 2001

By 

Edgar Foster (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Essential Latin (Paperback)

I am currently working on a Master's degree in Classics, and I have been studying Latin formally for over three years. Pedagogy is now my concern. I am interested in tools that will help others to learn Latin in an expedient and enjoyable manner. I now think that THE tool to use in helping students learn Latin is George Sharpley's "Essential Latin."

Sharpley's work contains a plethora of Latin texts from a diverse number of Latin writers. He has an answer key in the back of the book, and plenty of paradigms and pictures to assist the new student of Latin. The cultural sections are also invaluable, as is the pronunciation guide. In short, Sharpley's inductive approach is refreshing and effective. I strongly recommend this book as a pedagogical tool!

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, But Generally Not for Complete Beginners Who Are Adult, August 25, 2003

By 

Sunnyside "Sunnyside" (Astoria, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Essential Latin (Paperback)

In trying to please all comers (as per its introduction), it seems to become the proverbial "jack of all trades and master of none". I do very much like this book, but many adults seem to favor a more analytic approach, so "complete" beginners will probably be confused by its "'natural language'-esque" pedagogy of introducing new material without sufficient in-depth commentary, if any at all, initially. This book is probably better as a review for second-year Latin students...I am a complete beginner, but luckily I am not relying totally on this one book (I find it best to consult a wide variety of sources: currently I am also using "Latin via Ovid", "Learn Latin" [by Peter Jones], and, of course, Wheelock). I do very much like the fact that it has a complete answer key in the back, and a nice variety of exercises, if still too short for my tastes. It has a lot of mostly original Latin, with translations, to work with, and these original texts are arranged topically, almost always segueing seamlessly into each other: it's really interesting to read of the ancients' own views on their society and its wars and myths and very life. The bottom line is that I whole-heartedly recommend it, but just not as a sole source, or only for those with some prior knowledge of Latin.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars entertaining and well organized, November 26, 2000

By 

Benjamin Brophy (Cambridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential Latin (Paperback)

I picked up this book to relearn the Latin I'd forgotten since high school. I chose it because of it's clear organization, and the way it moves quickly into the material. After using the book I came to appreciate the essays on Roman culture, and the sections of original source material to translate. Reading some original material made studying Latin really interesting.