http://www.monogreek.com/monolingual.htm
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-r ... centReview
Some excerpts to show his lexigraphical method: Caruso uses simple definitions:
He uses synonyms:p. 81 γέφυρα, ας, ἡ = ἡ ὑπὲρ ποταμοῦ ὁδός.
He uses antonyms:p. 3 ἀγγέλλω =λέγω ὡς νέον ὄν, φέρω ἀγγελίαν, κηρύσσω, δηλῶ.
He uses simple graphics to avoid L1.p. 32 ἀνεπιστήμων, ον =/ ἔμπειρος, ον, ἱκανός, ή, όν.
Under περιστερά he has nothing but a very simple picture of a dove. Under χρῶμα he has only four small boxes each a different color. Under κάτω he has, among other info, an arrow pointing down. κ.τ.λ.p. 417 τέσσαρες, τέσσαρα= o o o o
The meat of his lexicon is illustrative quotes, mostly from the Greek NT:
There is no doubt that the book will be more useful and more beloved to those who know and love the Greek NT, but there is also a pedagogy here. The Greek NT has among the simplest Greek sentences one can find. In the example above, even beginners know the meanings of ὑμεῖς and ἐστε and τὸ and τῆς and γῆς. So this, along with the familiarity of the New Testament, allows the headword ἅλας to become comprehensible without leaving L2. He tends to use the same NT sentences (sometimes adapting them to be even simpler) so the lexicon re-enforces itself as one works one's way through it. He also includes lots of sentences from classical authors. These tend to be easier and more stand-alone than the examples you find in L.S.J. Same with his invented sentences.p. 18 ἅλας, τος τό... ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ ἅλας τῆς γῆς...(Mt 5,13a.)
I think his choice of which words to include is wonderful. He has about 5000 words, whereas, for example, the Langensheidt Pocket Ancient Greek Dictionary, which is fairly complete for reading purposes, has about 20,000 entries. So, obviously Caruso had choices to make. What makes his book useful to so many learners at different levels is that he includes most of the commonly used words, but also includes many, many very rare words, many of these classical and even Homeric. Just one example of a very rare word (it's not even in Langenscheidt) that I did not know before but have now learned without leaving L2:
His book is witty (under χαλεπός he inclues the remark: ὑμεῖς ἐπίστασθε ὡς ἡδύ τε καὶ χαλεπόν ἐστιν ἀνδρὶ οὐ ἑλληνικῷ γράφειν βιβλίον τοῦτο.) His book has some topical references:p. 75 βρέτας, ους, τό = ξύλινον εἴδωλον, ου τό.
His book is profound.p. 97 διάδοχος, ον = ἕτερος μεθ' ἕτερον ἔχων τι. διάδοχος διαδέχεται. Φρανκίσκος Βενεδίκτῳ διάδοχος έστι.
I have read this Greek word thousands of time, but I never thought about in those terms. And never in those GREEK terms!p. 68. βασιλεία, ας, ἡ = ἡ τοῦ βασιλέως χώρα καὶ ἔργον. (my emphasis)
Because I love reading Ancient Greek, I love and I am interested in Ancient Greek words. Caruso lets me read about Ancient Greek words in other Ancient Greek words. It's so good that I have been reading it straight through beginning with alpha.
Some of us have been waiting a long time for a book like this. I can pull up many on-line discussions where we despaired of not having such a work. We had assumed that it would be a long time coming, and I, for one, thought it would have required a group effort.
I think this is the most important publication in the Direct Method tradition since at least Rico's Polis in 2009. maybe since Rouse 100 years ago.
The font on this book is much larger and clearer than you usually find in Greek resources. The hardcover binding is strong and well sewn.
I got my copy from the Anglo American Bookshop in Rome
http://www.aab.it/bookinfo.php?aabcode= ... categoria=
for about $100.00 with shipping. There is no Greek resource I would recommend more highly.