I am not sure what I was expecting when I borrow Beginner’s Latin from the library. Yet I like it thus far. I am probably not the target audience, as I have already have complete a summer class in Latin, and I have done some self-study after that with Wheelock’s Latin. Yet it is always nice to have a good concise review, and this volume works well enough.
The most interesting part of the book is the setting. When Latin textbooks or graded reader try to give a continous story, they usually resort to three modes:
- A family at the height of Roman power.
- Adaptions from mythology.
- Adaptions from early Roman history (which isn’t much different from (2)).
This book takes a different approach, and follows the story of some monks long after the Empire has fallen. It’s interesting concept and I wouldn’t mind if more books took that approach. Latin had (or has) quite a history long after the empire has fallen.
Teach Yourself has been redisigning thier ‘beginner’s’ series, and they have just republished this book in 2024. It can be had for a mere 21 Canadian dollars.