Latin book recommendations sought

[Montanid]

Salvete!

After many starts and stops, I'm finally to the point where I can read some Caesar in the original - as long as I have some vocabulary help. I have a Scott, Foresman edition of "De Bello Gallico" that I like because it has all of the vocab. and other notes as footnotes (i.e., on the same page as the text) rather than as endnotes. Does any one have any suggestions for other books laid out in this manner? I'm mostly interested in history and not at all interested in poetry.

Thanks in advance,
David

[paulusnb]

I used to use the Scottish Classics Group publications in Grad school. HEre is one http://www.amazon.com/Introducing-Cicer ... 272&sr=1-1. I cannot seem to find the others.

I do not do as much History as poetry, but Ecce ROmani III is all history ( a lot of Eutropius) and has vocab/notes on the side, not to mention exercises. And they are not that pricey
http://product.half.ebay.com/Ecce-Roman ... 0QQtgZinfo. Though I have noticed that their prices have shot up ever since they were purchased by Prentice Hall. And it was written in the 70's!!! Freaking Textbook companies and government contracts.

Balchazy-Carducci has an excellent catalogue of Latin books. http://www.bolchazy.com/

[loqu]

Hi,

I dig up this old thread to ask about Latin books that are suitable for learners.

I have finished successfully Lingua Latina: Familia Romana and I'd like to know which books or authors aren't very difficult to read and understand. I know there are special adaptations like the ones Orberg published, but I'd prefer to spend my money in real works and not in adapted or cut books.

I've read somewhere that Catullus is simple, but I'd like some further opinions. What about Plautus or Martialis?

And is the Aeneid very difficult?

Thanks.

[paulusnb]

Eutropius, various selections of Caear, and various Catullus poems are fairly easy. As far as Vergil goes, Pharr's Aeneid will make it a lot easier. Generally, the dramas are difficult, but I think the Maenaechmi and the Phormio are sometimes read in the schools.

This beginning Latin Poetry reader is excellent http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Latin-P ... 865&sr=8-1. There are notes, a dictionary, and translations. The readings are labeled 1-4 in terms of difficulty. And everyone is included: Horace, Catullus, Ovid, etc. I have used this book with my students in the second semester of Latin II with no difficulty. It is cheap. So get it and then branch out.

Also, try these transitional readers from Balchazy. http://www.bolchazy.com/index.php?cat=latin&sub=4


These books, however, are all "cut." But you will need to read a "cut" book. If you try to read 12 books of the Aeneid, you will not finish for a year or two.

[loqu]

Thank you very much. That first book you link seems pretty appropriate, I think I'm going for it. A compilation of original texts is always better than an adapted one, in my opinion.

[paulusnb]

No problem. You might think about Ecce Romani Book III. It contains selections from Eutropius and Cicero. It is a good crib on the end of the Republic, and it can be had for 20 or so dollars. It contains notes/vocab on the facing page and a dictionary in the back. It also contains some grammar exercises. Oxford Latin reader is good as well. http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Latin-Read ... 630&sr=8-1

I have used all of these books at one time or another for my Latin III class. Has anyone used the Legamus transitional readers? I have always wanted to get my hands on them but never got around to it?