I have been finished John F Collins A Primal of Eclesiastical Latin book. Now I read Vulgate (particularly Gospels) and sometimes, when I have extra time, Summa Theologiae.
But I’d like to reach a higher level in Latin and want to read easier Classic Latin texts and later Vergil, Horatius etc.
I started reading Hans Orberg Familia Romana. I really like it and enjoy this method. I’d like to ask when I finish this book How do I continue my study? I continue with Roma Aeterna?
If I am not mistaken, FR is an adaptation of Livy’s Histories. You may also have a look at classics with commentary (some even paraphrasis) in Latin:
In our Latin Group here in San Diego we have almost finished with Nepos, who is among the easiest but also most interesting (at least for us).
Salvē!
I have been enjoying the reading of Lhomond’s Epitomē Historiae Sacrae. I cannot judge the quality of its Latinity, but it has been fairly easy to read after Familia Rōmāna. The Accademia Vivarium Novum published an edition with notes on words not found in FR, some words changed and macrons. I recommend it. Their resource list, which Bedwere has just shared, is full of things to read (the Colloquia Scholastica are much recommended; I tried to read Pontanus’ Progymnasmata after I finished FR, but they were too difficult.). I also like this one, much bigger than Vivarium Novum’s.
If you use the Italianate pronunciation, this channel has all of Familia Romana very well read by an Italian, although he ignores vowel lenghts (which I would not recommend you to do, regardless of the pronunciation you use: it is important for poetry and for correctly stressing words). If you use the Reconstructed one, you may buy Ørberg’s recordings (or download them from other sources). They are good, but he tends to pronounce V as in voice and ae as e. Bedwere has many readings of both Latin and Greek (using Italianate pronunciation for the former, Erasmian for the latter) texts at librivox.org; I have heard some of his Vulgate (which you may download at https://archive.org/details/@bedwere) and think they are very pleasant to hear.
Happy readings!
Also, when working through Familia Romana, do all the exercises, and even use the separate Exercitia Latina if you can. Do not move on to the next chapter before you can understand the entire current one with no problem (for that, read, reread and reread again as many times as needed!), and always review past chapters (which you can do more easily with recordings, although I would not neglect also rereading them).
Festīnā lente.
One more thing: the site Bedwere linked also has many Greek works with facing Latin translations; as you also know Greek, when you Latin gets better you may be interested to take a look at them.
Many, many thanks for your answers. It is the best forum I’ve ever found.
If you have any further advice, I’d be happy to hear it.
I am glad I have been useful!