Latin: An Intensive Course [Paperback]

Floyd L. Moreland (Author), Rita M. Fleischer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0520031830 | ISBN-13: 978-0520031838 | Publication Date: October 19, 1977

This is a comprehensive introduction to Latin forms and syntax, designed to train the student in reading ancient texts at an early stage.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"The best Latin text now available and I very much doubt that a better one will appear for a long time."--Ralph W. Johnson, Cornell University

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press (October 19, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520031830
• ISBN-13: 978-0520031838
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,349 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Latin Grammar, But Not For the Faint of Heart, May 13, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Latin: An Intensive Course (Paperback)

Of the several Latin grammars I have used (or tried to use), Intensive Latin clearly ranks as my favorite. The book is very thorough but incredibly concise, so much that you might miss some of the details the first time through. As a consolation, however, the book has an excellent index system, such that even each vocabulary entry has an associated chapter number. The contents are arranged fairly logically, although this might not seem apparent to the newcomer. Each chapter (or "unit") succinctly presents several concepts, and ends with a vocabulary list and extensive drills, exercises, and readings. Interspersed among the units are multi-unit reviews that provide self-exercises and generally help the reader better assimilate the information contained in the previous units. The book concludes with an appendix summarizing all the grammar concepts, two vocabulary lists (Latin-English and English-Latin), and an index. Having used the book in a college course, I did not note any errors in the book's content. The book clearly focuses on "classical Latin", as indicated by the vocabulary lists and reading selections. However, one studying this book will be more than sufficiently prepared to tackle reading Medieval Latin sources. Corroborating the statements of a fellow reviewer, I found that the binding really is poor. Anyone using the book seriously will have to glue, tape, or otherwise rectify the situation to keep all the pages in one spot and in the proper order. This book is completely undeserving of such a substandard edifice! In sum, I highly recommend Intensive Latin to the serious student. Less eager individuals might find themselves swept away by the rapidity of presentation.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for Independent Study! (sine magistra), January 24, 2001

By 

Charles Ryder (Tokyo) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Latin: An Intensive Course (Paperback)

Picture yourself at the edge of a pool--a pool of Latin that is. Most Latin course books will hold your hand as they gently guide you to the steps at the shallow end. Not so with Moreland and Fleischer. This first-rate text expeditiously gives you a shove into the uncharted deep end. But what a deep end!

I'm using two books right now for an independent study (Moreland and Fleischer, and the respected "Wheelock's Latin"). These books used together (allowing you the whole pool) is the way to go. Wheelock holds your hand, tells you stories, and provides cutesy sentences that stick in your head (Apollo me saepe servat), which makes for a nice break from the other text, i.e., the one that takes no prisoners and shoves the subjunctive mood down your throat in chapter 2 (Wheelock waits until chapter 28!!). But, as mentioned, this student of Latin recommends a cautious mixture of the two texts.

One slightly negative comment on the Moreland and Fleischer, however: there is no key for the unit exercises, which makes it very frustrating after you've spent 20 minutes piecing together a lengthy sentence translation. Soon, you begin to settle with translations like "Unless the cares of the women are met, the sailors will be condemned by the inhabitants, and the people of the province will not work." Huh?

In short, this book is highly useful but certainly not for the (pardon the cliché) faint of heart.

BONAM FORTUNAM!

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Be sure to do your homework when reading reviews, September 5, 2001

By 

theCardiffGiant (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Latin: An Intensive Course (Paperback)

This is a fine Latin text for the mature or adult student who is able and willing to learn and to study Latin as more than a hobby. I must add for the consumer's sake that a previous review is very misleading. "Bennett's New Latin Grammar," suggested as an alternative, is not a textbook, but a reference grammar best suited for beginning to intermediate Latin students (more advanced grammars being "Allen & Greenough" and "Hale & Buck"). Wheelock is a fine alternative to "Latin: An Intensive Course," and is somewhat easier to follow, but either book will suit a mature individual. I highly recommend using in addition a good mid-level dictionary (Chambers-Murray being the best for size, scope, and price) as well as a good beginning reference grammar (Bennett being the most readily available, and probably the easiest to use--but you'll want to upgrade later).