Readers

Why read at level texts if the goal is to read literature?

Research has shown that language is best acquired when language learners (like you!):

  1.  encounter large amounts of compelling content.
  2. engage in both scheduled and opportunistic habits.

What to read?

With this in mind, the very best way to review and extend your Latinity is by habitual, extensive reading of an at-level text or a text that’s right for you. Cursus uses Stanford-Scott’s A Junior Latin Reader as its at-level text, which hopefully will be at the right level for most who are reviewing and extending their Latinity. But you would do well to find one or more other at-level texts to further complement your learning.

The key to selecting an at-level text is to find a text that you can read and understand. If you feel compelled to look up more than a handful of words per page (rather than making educated guesses from context), then that text is beyond your level. If you read a page and don’t have a sense of the basic contours of the story or description, then the text is not your text.  The point is to read a great deal at a reasonable pace (different than the challenging, high literature that we read in most Latin classes). For this activity, it is much better — indeed essential — to read and re-read

The point of reading at level is to encounter a great deal of a language at a reasonable pace. The goal, therefore is different than our encounters with challenging, high literature that we read in most Latin classes. When reading at level, it is much better — indeed essential — to read and re-read more of an easier text than less of a more difficult text.

When and how much to read?

You should schedule some time (almost) every day to read your personal text; you should also snatch moments to read opportunistically. If you really want to become fluent in Latin, you should plan to read no fewer than 5,000 Latin words (about 20 regular pages) and ideally 8,000 words. This might seem daunting, indeed impossible if your experience with reading Latin has been limited to intensively reading challenging texts that are (for now) well belond your level. But mementō, you are reading at level for comprehension. Set aside a few sessions a week to read. But also create a habit of reading: e.g. 15 minutes whenever you sit down to prepare for class; 10 minutes when waiting for the bus, etc.

Set goals for yourselves; e.g. “I’m going to read 15 minutes per day this week” or “I’m going read 3 pages per day” or “I’m going to finish 4 short stories this week”… (or a chapter of a longer work).

Re-reading is vital to the educational benefits of reading at level. Don’t just forge ahead day after day. Incorporate some time every day to re-reading a page, a section, or a story. This also will make your targets for words and/or pages much more obtainable.

After you read…journaling?

You might find it helpful to keep a reading journal in which you will track your personal reading, your progress, challenges, and triumphs. Your reading journal might include

  1. What you reread that day.
  2. What new you read that day.
  3. How much you read (duration and pages)
  4. How the reading seemed (easy or easier, more difficult, piece of cake, etc.)
  5. Any other comments, observations about the text or the process that you would like to record.

Personal Readers

Texts marked with ➣are especially recommended.

Texts marked with ❖ may only be available for Bryn Mawr & Haverford Students.

Many comprehensible texts at a range of levels are available in the Haverford Comprehensible Latin Lending Library.

Level 1: Beginning Readers

  • ➣ Brando Brown Canem Vult: what happens when a boy wants a dog, his mother says no, and he finds a lost dog? Comprehensible fun! This simple story uses only 125 common words to tell a compelling and amusing story.  [Purchase on Amazon].
  • ➣ A Junior Latin Reader (Standford and Scott, 1922): begins with simplified (and subjunctive-free) versions of the Fabulae Faciles of Perseus and Hercules with in-line commentary and supplementary vocabulary; the second section of the book continues the Fabulae alongside a series of 35 lessons on more advanced grammatical topics. This is the core text of Haverford’s Cursus review site.
  • Cornelia (Mima Maxey, 1933): this book provides a continuous text beginning at the easiest level possible but advancing as the story unfolds. Of all the listed texts, this one is the easiest.
  • ➣ Colloquia Latina (Benjamin D’Ooge, 1888): a series of dialogues for beginners; includes systematic review of basic grammar and guided questions to help you review.
  • ➣ Carolus et Maria (Marjorie J. Fay, 1933): this book starts at the easiest level possible and provides a continuous story.
  • ➣ Lingua Latina Pars I: For absolute beginners, its short stories on Roman daily life slowly increase in complexity. [you’ll need to purchase a copy]
  • ➣ Julia – A Latin Reading Book (Maud Reed, 1941): For absolute beginners as well, its difficulty level increases continually, with a few passages from Latin poets interspersed.
  • Narrationes Faciles de Historia Romanorum: a large selection of easy texts concerning Roman history (or legend) compiled by John P. Piazza. Scroll to Latin history narratives.
  • Narrationes Faciles de Mythologia Romana Graecaque: a selection of easy texts concerning Roman and Greek mythology compiled by John P. Piazza. Scroll to Latin mythology narratives.

Level 2: Advanced Beginning Readers

  • ➣ Lingua Latina Pars II: a continuation of the Lingua Latina series; recounts important episodes from Roman myth and history using simplified versions of Classical texts. [you’ll need to purchase a copy]
  • Ora Maritima (E.A. Sonnenschein, 1927): this book also contains a continuous story, however, with the additional benefit, that Evan Millner (LATINUM-podcast) has created an audio version of it.
  • Arena Palaestrarum. This is meant to be read after working through Palaestra.
  • Pro Patria (E.A. Sonnenschein, 1907): this book is a sequel to “Ora Maritima” by the same author.
  • ➣ A First Latin Reader (H.C. Nutting, 1912): this Latin reader is special in that a large part of it does not treat Roman history but that of America.
  • ➣ Via Latina: An Easy Latin Reader (William Coe Collar, Clarence Willard Gleason, 1897): easy versions of the Argonautica, Ulysses, the Roman Kings, Fables, Biographies (Caesar, Alcibiades) with notes and vocabulary. The Argonautica and Caesar stories also appear in A Junior Latin Reader (F. W. Sanford and H. F. Scott) with embedded notes.
  • Latin Stories for Reading or Telling (W.H.D. Rouse, 1935)
  • Varius Libellus ad usum scholarum (U.E Paoli, 1961)
  • ➣ Ritchie’s Fabulae Faciles (F. Ritchie/J. Copeland Kirtland, 1905): these are the well known stories about Perseus, Hercules, the Argonauts, and Ulysses. Vocabulary available on the Bridge
  • Fabulae Ab Urbe Condita (F. Sanford and H. Scott): a graded reader of early Roman History, loosely based on Livy, Ab Urbe Condita Books I-II.
  • A Latin Reader For The Lower Forms In School (H.J. Hardy, 1889): another book with short and unique Latin stories.
  • Ciceronis filius (U.E Paoli, 1964): once you have learned all the grammar, this is an ideal introduction to the ordinary world of the ancient Romans. Definitely a must-have.
  • Corderii Colloquiorum Centuria Selecta (Corderius/John Clarke, 1759): this book is different from the other in that it does not contain stories but dialogues. It is an ideal starting point for anyone interested in learning how to speak Latin (or write dialogues in that Latin).
  • Easy Latin Plays (M.L. Newman, 1913): this booklet contains two easy Latin plays, ideal for anyone interested in dialogue.
  • A Latin Reader (H. M. Bruns, 1876): a grammar followed by the history of Joseph, fables (the vocabulary is somewhat challenging here), anecdotes of eminent men, and an epitome of Roman History to the death of Augustus.
  • A Latin Reader (A. Harkness, 1869): Fables, Anecdotes, Roman and Greek history.
  • A Latin Reader (B. L. Gildersleeve): a reader with Aesopic fables, heroic tales, short stories, a history of Alexander the Great, leading to Book 5 of Caesar’s De Bello Gallico.
  • A Latin Reader: Easy Selections for Beginners (F. Gallup, 1913): Fables, short stories, tales of early Rome (based on Livy), hymns, psalms, and myths (from Ovid)
  • Commentarii de Inepto Puero  (Diary of a Wimpy Kid,  Jeff Kinney and Daniel Gallagher, 2015) [you’ll need to purchase a copy]
  • Biblia Sacra: the late antique translation of the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament

Level 3: Intermediate Readers

Level 4: Advanced Intermediate Readers

  • ➣ Insula Thesauraria (Robert Louis Stevenson, translation by Arcadius Avellanus)
  • Robinson Crusoëus, translated by F.J. Goffaux, annotated by Avellanus (1904)
  • Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis ( J. K. Rowling and Peter Needham, 2003) (available via Amazon)
  • Harrius Potter et Camera Secretorum ( J. K. Rowling and Peter Needham, 2006) (available via Amazon)
  • Hobbitus Ille: The Latin Hobbit (J. R. R. Tolkien and Mark Walker, 2012) (available via Amazon)
  • Alicia in Terra Mirabili (Lewis Carroll and Clive Harcourt Carruthers, 2011) (available via Amazon)
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