Customer Reviews:
Great book that is really focused.......2007-06-01
This book has a specific goal in mind for the student and gives the student all of what they need to get to the goal as efficiently as possible. This book doesn't go into a lot of extra explanation of the Language, relying instead on giving the forms in a simple style and then going into exercises to get the student using the forms. As someone who was already litterate in Latin and a Latin teacher before coming to this book I found it a quick read both in the English and Latin sections and really appreciated the focused nature. All the of the grammar sections were review for me thus the places I benifited most were in the building of my Latin vocabulary.
The name probably could have been better as "Latin Grammar" on the cover is a little misleading but was probably unintentional. I imagine that anyone not already literate or fluent in Latin will need a teacher to help them with this book or it would be very slow going. Other then that it is a great resource and the Latin-English glossary in the back can act as your default travel dictionary.
Traditionalists Latin Vademecum.......2005-09-03
Scanlon's work is more valuable today than it was "in the day" when it was first published. Though lacking a website, fine art and other bells and whistles, this Latin course satisfies the traditional Catholic's need to attain proficiency sufficient to prayerfully attend the traditional Latin Mass and read the Roman Breviary. I used it years ago when I taught myself Latin. I'm using it today to teach my own son as well.
Best intro for self-starters.......2002-03-11
If, like me, you want to teach yourself Latin so that you can read the Vulgate and the Breviary, then you have only two choices of introductory texts here at Amazon: Scanlon & Scanlon's "Latin Grammar" and John F. Collins "A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin". Both texts are intended for classroom use.
Collins slowly introduces you to Latin grammar while building up your Latin vocabulary. Scanlon & Scanlon tend to push you through the grammar more quickly, relying on cognates early on to help you cope with the vocabulary. Scanlon & Scanlon supply accent marks in all their texts and vocabularies to show you which syllable to accent; this is very helpful if you are teaching yourself. Collins provides macrons to mark long vowels in his texts and vocabularies; these suffice to let you figure out for yourself where the accent is, and they help you appreciate the meters used in classical poetry. For those who care about such things, physically Collins is clearly superior, with larger pages and larger type and plentiful margins. Scanlon & Scanlon comes with a splendid vocabulary in the appendix, small but complete, for reading the Breviary, the Missal, and the Gospels.
My approach to teaching myself Latin is "Teach me the grammar, give me a dictionary, and let me at the text". So I much prefer Scanlon & Scanlon to Collins. If you want to take the grammar more slowly though, you'll probably prefer Collins.
Honorable mention goes to Gavin Betts who wrote an excellent textbook, "Latin: A Complete Course (Teach Yourself)", that is intended for self-teaching. Unfortunately, its emphasis is almost entirely classical. Still, Classical and Ecclesiastical Latin are similar enough that it makes a good supplement to either Scanlon & Scanlon or Collins.
If you choose Collins, once you start reading the Vulgate, you'll probably want Leo F. Stelten's "Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin". Neither the Cassel's nor Chambers-Murray nor even the Oxford Latin Dictionary is adequate, although Lewis and Short's is, if you can afford it.
Good Place to Start.......2001-02-13
This remarkable book is a good place to start for anyone trying to learn ecclesiastical Latin, especially those who are interested in understanding the Mass or the Divine Office. This is the first of a two book series written for seminarians and novices who may have had no previous knowledge of Latin and needed to learn it fairly quickly (the second book is called Second Latin).
This book won't make you an expert Latinist, but it is most useful for anyone who desires a reasonable understanding of the language, particularily if you are interested in understanding the Latin used in the liturgy. Readings from the Gospel of St. John are introduced in later lessons (the second book focuses more on the use of Latin in theology and cannon law). This first book does a decent job of covering Latin grammar completely; although, the explanations of grammatical constructs are a bit brief. It was written in 1944 and so presumes that the reader has had some exposure the the Latin Mass, but it won't be much of a hinderance if one hasn't had any exposure to the Latin Mass.
Overall, this is a wonderful introduction to the Latin used by the Church, and I heartily recommend it to anyone.
Glossary alone is worth the price.......1998-05-30
This book is excellent preparation for reading ecclesiastical Latin. For reading the Vulgate, the extensive vocabulary at the back makes it a handier reference than a standard Latin dictionary. The emphasis here is on reading: all exercises are Latin into English - none are English into Latin. It lacks diacritical marks, although it does mark the accented syllable. Readers seeking a primer to prepare them to read church Latin appear to have few choices, but this is a good one.
Book Description
Reading Latin is a Latin course designed to help mature beginners read Latin fluently and intelligently, primarily in the context of classical culture, but with some mediaeval Latin too. It does this in three ways; it encourages reading of continuous texts from the start; it offers generous help with translation at every stage; and it integrates the learning of Classical Latin with an appreciation of the influence of the Latin language upon English and European culture from Antiquity to the present. The text, richly illustrated, consists at the start of carefully graded adaptations from original Classical Latin texts. The adaptations are gradually phased out until unadultered prose and verse can be read. The Grammar, Vocabulary and Exercises volume supplies all the help needed to do this, together with a range of reinforcing exercises for each section, including English into Latin for those who want it. At the end of each section, a selection of Latin epigrams, mottoes, quotations, everyday Latin, word-derivations, examples of mediaeval Latin and discussions of the influence of Latin upon English illustrate the language’s impact on Western culture. Reading Latin is principally designed for university and adult beginners, and also for sixth-formers (eleventh and twelth graders in the USA). It is also ideal for those people who may have learned Latin many years ago, and wish to renew their acquaintance with the language. Its companion course, Reading Greek is one of the most widely used mature beginners’ courses in the world.
Customer Reviews:
No better way to learn Latin.......2001-01-15
This is the companion volume to Reading Latin, by the same authors (q.v.). This volume contains the vocabularies for the reading exercises in Reading Latin, as well as the grammar for each section and copious exercises. The combination is a thorough and effective way to learn Latin while introducing you to some of the best of Latin literature. The vocabularies are cleverly constructed so that you build up a good core vocabulary, without producing ridiculously simple reading sections by trying to keep the vocabulary too restricted. A hint: the authors suggest you don't do all the exercises, but choose a few. You'll do much better if you do most, if not all, of them. Secondly, the course is not called Reading Latin for nothing. There are exercises in translating from English to Latin, but if you want to write Latin, you would be better off with a Latin Prose Composition course. Latin is not an easy language and all language learning takes time. The whole Reading Latin Course will take 18 months to 2 years to work through at a comfortable pace.
This book rescued me from complete ignorance of Latin.......2000-07-21
I am one of those mature students who did not make out at school and found to my regret that I had hit my forties without achieving any academic qualifications. I studied Philosophy at Bachelors' and Masters' levels when I discovered I wanted to ultimately study mediaeval philosophy at Doctorate level. However, I had zilch Latin and Greek, for I was like the majority of my generation (the ones who had not paid to go to school) and had been denied these subjects at grade school. At the level I was now studying, I needed to read the original texts in Latin and this way was barred to me at that time. I ceased my academic philosophy studies and tried to acquire the necesssary Latin skills in order to read these texts. I tried various grammars and struggled until I came across this book and another set with which I worked a deux: 'the Cambridge Latin Course'. I will talk about the Cambridge course elsewhere. 'Reading Latin' consists of various texts from Latin authors like Cicero and Plautus with appropriate exercises and grammar explanations that take the reader through the essentials of Latin. It was tough going at first for Jones and Sidwell do not go in for the faint hearted. You could say that 'Latin is not for Wimps!'. However, after two years working with the exercises and conscientiously keeping plodding on, even when I felt 'grammar fatigue' coming on, I passed my 'A' level Latin with a grade A distinction! I am now reviewing some of the more grey areas and dipping into Sidwell's follow-up book 'Medieval Latin' (sic) which takes the keen reader and me, the hopeful mediaevalist, into the areas where Latin became the repository of Western Thought and the language of the scholar. I am presently working my way through the opening chapters of the sister volume of JACT, 'Reading Greek', that takes the same approach, albeit in three segments and not two. Due to 'Reading Latin', I am now commencing my DPhil studies in the Fall, confident I can handle the material. I would have been unable to do this without the basics covered in this book. As I have already emphasised, Latin is not an easy subject and is not for the faint hearted, although its rigours are ultimately extremely rewarding. I believe the educationalists, those hidden strategists of class education, were ultimately wrong to deny Latin to working class people like me, who they supposed would occupy some menial niche under someone who had. However, with this book and accompanying text and some steely perseverance, the dogged formerly classics-denied individual will finally get where they wish to arrive: easily reading and appreciating these immortal writings of great beauty and structure that underpin the very culture that we belong to; these works that were supposed to be so great that they were to be kept from the many, as a preserve for the elect. I believe Cicero, Ovid and Horace would agree with me!
This book rescued me from complete ignorance of Latin.......2000-07-21
I am one of those mature students who did not make out at school and found to my regret that I had hit my forties without achieving any academic qualifications. I studied Philosophy at Bachelors' and Masters' levels when I discovered I wanted to ultimately study mediaeval philosophy at Doctorate level. However, I had zilch Latin and Greek, for I was like the majority of my generation (the ones who had not paid to go to school) and had been denied these subjects at grade school. At the level I was now studying, I needed to read the original texts in Latin and this way was barred to me at that time. I ceased my academic philosophy studies and tried to acquire the necesssary Latin skills in order to read these texts. I tried various grammars and struggled until I came across this book and another set with which I worked a deux: 'the Cambridge Latin Course'. I will talk about the Cambridge course elsewhere. 'Reading Latin' consists of various texts from Latin authors like Cicero and Plautus with appropriate exercises and grammar explanations that take the reader through the essentials of Latin. It was tough going at first for Jones and Sidwell do not go in for the faint hearted. You could say that 'Latin is not for Wimps!'. However, after two years working with the exercises and conscientiously keeping plodding on, even when I felt 'grammar fatigue' coming on, I passed my 'A' level Latin with a grade A distinction! I am now reviewing some of the more grey areas and dipping into Sidwell's follow-up book 'Medieval Latin' (sic) which takes the keen reader and me, the hopeful mediaevalist, into the areas where Latin became the repository of Western Thought and the language of the scholar. I am presently working my way through the opening chapters of the sister volume of JACT, 'Reading Greek', that takes the same approach, albeit in three segments and not two. Due to 'Reading Latin', I am now commencing my DPhil studies in the Fall, confident I can handle the material. I would have been unable to do this without the basics covered in this book. As I have already emphasised, Latin is not an easy subject and is not for the faint hearted, although its rigours are ultimately extremely rewarding. I believe the educationalists, those hidden strategists of class education, were ultimately wrong to deny Latin to working class people like me, who they supposed would occupy some menial niche under someone who had. However, with this book and accompanying text and some steely perseverance, the dogged formerly classics-denied individual will finally get where they wish to arrive: easily reading and appreciating these immortal writings of great beauty and structure that underpin the very culture that we belong to; these works that were supposed to be so great that they were to be kept from the many, as a preserve for the elect. I believe Cicero, Ovid and Horace would agree with me!
A reader from FL.......2000-03-24
If you are in search of a great book that will help you in your quest to learn to Read Latin, then, this is the book for you! The information provided is thorough, and organized in a way that every philologist will appreciate. It covers Latin grammar and vocabulary in a section by section manner, with each section building on the previous section learned. Each section follows the same format: Latin running vocabulary, learning vocabulary, and grammar, in addition to other helps such as "word building," "everyday Latin," and "Real Latin." Then, continues on with the following exercises that reinforce the students growing knowledge of Latin: Morphology (translating English into Latin), Reading (translation of Latin text using correct grammar), and English-Latin (translating Latin into English). This text also provides a "Glossary of English-Latin Grammar," "Total Latin-English Learning Vocabulary," "Total English-Latin Vocabulary for exercises," "Additional Learning Vocabulary," and a handy "Index of Grammar" used throughout the text. It is a great help for adult students and non-students alike learning the language, or for those studying classical culture in general. A must have for any Latin aficionado (from Latin "affectio" AFFECTION)!
A reader from FL.......2000-03-24
If you are in search of a great book that will help you in your quest to learn to Read Latin, then, this is the book for you! The information provided is thorough, and organized in a way that every philologist will appreciate. It covers Latin grammar and vocabulary in a section by section manner, with each section building on the previous section learned. Each section follows the same format: Latin running vocabulary, learning vocabulary, and grammar, in addition to other helps such as "word building," "everyday Latin," and "Real Latin." Then, continues on with the following exercises that reinforce the students growing knowledge of Latin: Morphology (translating English into Latin), Reading (translation of Latin text using correct grammar), and English-Latin (translating Latin into English). This text also provides a "Glossary of English-Latin Grammar," "Total Latin-English Learning Vocabulary," "Total English-Latin Vocabulary for exercises," "Additional Learning Vocabulary," and a handy "Index of Grammar" used throughout the text. It is a great help for adult students and non-students alike learning the language, or for those studying classical culture in general. A must have for any Latin aficionado (from Latin "affectio" AFFECTION)!
Book Description
The perfect primer for anyone who wants to be able to read classical Latin or learn the basics to enhance their vocabulary, this complete introductory course presents Latin grammar clearly and plainly. Void of all non-essentials and refreshingly easy to understand, Latin Made Simple includes:
Complete Latin grammar
Pronunciation of both classical and church Latin
Practice readings
Review quizzes with complete answer keys
Studies of original texts and translations
Examinations of Latin words in the English language
Word cells and etymology
Vocabulary building exercises
Full of fun exercises and practical tips, Latin Made Simple makes it easy to increase your understanding of the language and the many ways it has enriched our culture and our civilization.
Customer Reviews:
A bit of a mess.......2007-07-19
This really is a waste of time- buy a good Latin Dictionary, a Latin Grammar review chart, a good basic program-( Oxford, or Cambridge is good for younder students- Wheelock's is tedious but good, especially for older students,) and then supplement with some fun stuff like Latin Mythica or other great publications from Bolchazy-Carducci . This should be a good book but the editorial carelessness just makes it not so!
Don't start with this text.......2004-07-04
I learned Latin first using Wheelock, one of the standard texts available today for Latin instruction; I have used other grammars, readers and texts since then, and seem to pick up another volume every other year or so, just to keep up the practice, and to see what else is available. I purchased 'Latin Made Simple' by Hendricks some time prior to my Latin instruction using Wheelock, but had not used it; it sat on the shelf waiting to be read, but I must confess, I hadn't got round to it prior to my classes in Latin.
When I picked it up off the shelf to use it to help refresh my Latin several years later, I found it a mixed bag. I liked the fact that it addressed topics such as Church Latin (Wheelock is primarily for classical -- Republic or Imperial - Latin), and found many of the examples more relevant to my needs as a churchy person. I also liked some of the page layouts for verb conjugations and noun declensions, and some other grammar points.
However, there are many typographical errors here, and several problems I noticed even with my then-rusty Latin. Some of the verb conjugations did not match with the guide to Latin Verbs I used as a companion. Checking against Wheelock and Henle, I found that Hendrick's text was indeed incorrect. While this is probably more of an editorial problem than an author's shortcoming, it still reflects badly on the text (as the student won't in general care if the problem comes from the editor or the author, but rather takes what is on the page).
Since this is a book designed primarily for those who have not had any Latin training, identifying the errors is not really possible for most readers (this is a bad thing). Also, since this is a book designed for the absolute beginner, many of the issues are presented in the most simple format possible -- the problem here is that Latin is a very complex language, and there are many exceptions to almost every rule -- the presentation here doesn't really prepare the student for the variations, leading to a bit of confusion.
I found this book useful as a review, but could not really recommend it as a beginning text.
Auctor stultus est........2004-01-09
Errata multa in libro sunt.
Miserabile dictu, mihi necesse est reprobare librum istum.
There are many errors in the book.
Sad to say, I must repudiate the book.
Errare humanum est, but this is ridiculous.......2003-10-08
I think the other reviewers have adequately summarized many of the shortcomings of this book. Of the many things I could add, I will simply say that the book offers seven guidelines for the pronunciation of Church Latin: two are wrong, one is at best misleading, one is too vague to evaluate, and one manages to combine all three of these problems; of course, that leaves two that are correct. But you will probably want to spend your money on something with a higher batting average. Wheelock's is better in essentially every way; if your particular interest is Church Latin, Collins's "A Primer of Ecclesiastiacal Latin" is an excellent choice.
Latin Made Wrong.......2001-11-06
This text is loaded with typographical errors, mistranslations, and inconsistencies. It does not explain important points accurately, so that if you depend on it alone for instruction in Latin, you will learn the language incorrectly. For instance, the authors never mark long vowels, which, in some cases, changes the meaning of a text. Translations are inconsistent; sometimes third person is translated "he" and sometimes it is "he, she or it". One exercise translates all present tense verbs in the past tense.
Using this book is not merely frustrating; it's counterproductive. Don't buy it.
Book Description
Presenting 9 innovative and fun collage projects from professional collage artists, this book is a visually exciting class in one of the world most often used and admired art techniques. The beauty of collage art is its appeal and accessibility at every level of sophistication. Anyone from the hobbyist to the fine artist can use collage techniques to add creativity and dimension to their work. This book provides creative instruction and inspiration through a wide range of projects from nine collage artists.
Customer Reviews:
Good Step-by-Step Collage Book.......2006-01-19
I like this book, along with Creative Collage Techniques by Nita Leland. As a beginner, I needed something that would give me the information I needed and to spark my creative juices.
This book includes a Materials and Ingredients list for each project and Recipes throughout. There was cornstarch paste recipe, which may be something I try at a later date, but I want to keep it simple for now. The book has great photographs and text that show the steps needed to complete the project. It also includes a gallery of collage art by various artists. Collage Art covers paper, fabric, found object collage and collagraphy "the process of making a print from a collage plate".
A very nice book to add to your collection.
Nice Addition to the Collage Library.......2005-08-19
I rate this book a 4-star only because it's several year old. The inspiration here is terrific. I question some of the "how to's" only because there are other methods available now(no need to make your own glue). Acrylic medium is the best adhesive available for collage art. It touches on fabric collage as well. The gallery of work is wonderful. You cannot (and should not) duplicate, but your are given enough inspiration to create your own work. I would say this book is big on "Look what you could do" and little light on the "How to". Still . . . a good keeper. Excellent and plentiful full-color photos.
Lush, be inspired!.......2003-10-09
I've had my share of disappointments with collage books. So much of the rubber stamping craft craze has moved into what we call "Collage".
I was afraid this book would be hyping rubber stamp and craft company
products. Never have I been so WRONG!
This book is by and for artists who are working on original ideas. The "how to's" are not for cookie cutter projects but informative in recipes (wheat paste glue) and techniques. All work in this book is by serious,
original artists.
This book has me planning two days off to play around with some of my own ideas using the techniques of application of paint and materials in this book.
You won't be sorry, buy the book!
Releasing my "Inner Artist".......2001-10-26
I have long been interested in collage and recently decided to try my hand at it. To facilitate this, I got several books on the subject. This was one of the nicest and most complete.
Atkinson's beautiful book was a great help. I liked the way collage artists showed, step by step, how they created their collages. The photgraphy of the pieces was excellent, making it a very visually appealing book.
My only disappointment was that the book did not cover what materials to use, what glue to paste with, what different kinds of papers are available, and preservation of the finished work. This is not the fault of the author....she never claimed that the book was a beginner's guide.
Overall, this was a great resource book.
Collage for the conoissier..........2001-05-28
This book is dedicated to those who already know the first steps of collage works: what materials to use, what glue to paste with, what elements to include... but it gives an amazing amount of ideas and new approaches that are awesome. You can't miss this publication if you are collage-prone. It's a delight for the eye and helps you understand how artists use their skills and imagination. Take a look!... Am I wrong?
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General
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Second Latin
Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin
Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin
An Answer Key to a Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin: A Supplement to the Text by John F. Collins
1962 Daily Roman Missal, Illustrated Edition
