An Introduction to Greek (WPC Classics) [Paperback]

Henry L. Crosby (Editor), John N. Schaeffer (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1898855838 | ISBN-13: 978-1898855835 | Publication Date: September 2001

This classic introduction gives the student an insight into the amazing achievements of ancient Greece and at the same time, in a logical, thorough and interesting manner, develops in that student the power to read Greek.

In an effort to stimulate and to help the student empathize, the authors bring the ancient Greeks alive by incorporating Greek mottoes at the head of each lesson to indicate the universality of Greek thought.They introduce many notable writers through translation passages, and by the inclusion of specially selected exercises on derivations and word formation that show how vital Greek is in our everyday language and lives.

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Anthem Press (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1898855838
• ISBN-13: 978-1898855835
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,327,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Old School, October 4, 2004

By 

Thomas F. Ogara (Jacksonville, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to Greek (Paperback)

I originally used this book in college to learn Classical Greek, which I studied with a 78 year old Jesuit. It was probably the same book he initially learned Greek from. It dates from the time when Greek studies were losing ground in American academia, but when any educated college graduate worth his salt was still expected to have a smattering of the language. And it was typical of that period: short lessons, each one of them full of grammatical meat to digest. Paradigms, lots of 'em. The unspoken assumption that you already had some Latin, probably four years of it at the high school level, and so you were used to the drill. Cute little Classical cultural asides, the type designed to keep a young student's interest up. Short excerpts from Plato, Heroditus, the playwrights, and of course Xenophon, the Greek student's first companion.

I'm glad I held on to it. When I went back to relearn in earnest the Greek I learned so badly while in school, it was the most useful source I had. I have run across many other books to learn Attic Greek, but I always keep going back to this one. Somewhere within its covers there is an explanation for everything in the language.

The somewhat antiquated format may not appeal to you, unless you like that kind of thing (I do), but if you've already used some other book on learning Classical Greek, I have no doubt that you will find this book useful as a supplement and reference.

27 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book to learn attic greek from, September 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: An Introduction to Greek (Paperback)

This is without a doubt the best book from which to learn attic (classical) greek from. I used this book in college to learn greek and of those I have seen it is the easiest to use and the most complete. It is somewhat difficult to use to teach yourself but is doable.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For mature learners, February 10, 2010

By 

Frederico Lopes (Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: An Introduction to Greek (Dover Language Guides) (Paperback)

The other reviewers are right: it's possible to learn Ancient Greek from this classic, but the feeling of not knowing you are right or wrong at the exercises is sometimes annoying. It should be a good idea to start a collaborative task force in order to provide all the answers for free over the net.
I think this book is geared toward mature self-learners, mainly those who already know Latin. For newcomers the book Learning Greek With Plato (Bristol Phoenix Press - Classical Handbooks) is a far better alternative.