Wheelock's Latin Reader, 2nd Edition: Selections from Latin Literature

Very helpful notes, include information as well as glossing rare terms, but leaves it up to the reader to decide which meaning to use, which I found lead to a better understanding of the texts on my part than if it just gave a suggested meaning. Using this book for a graduate level class in Roman Philology, an amazing text, recommended to students and teachers alike

I will revise this review after I read the book, but please note that this is meant to be used AFTER Wheelock's Latin, not simultaneously with it. For simultaneous use, see 38 Latin Stories Designed to Accompany Frederic M. Wheelock's Latin.

This is an excellent intermediate reader. The selections (From Cicero, Livy, Ovid, Pliny and various Medieval sources, including the Vulgate) are quite long, so one gets a feel for the style of each author. The readings are all engaging, the four selections from Ovid in particular. There is a complete vocabulary list in the back, and there are facing-page notes that gloss less common words or forms or provide grammatical or historical information. The level of help feels just about right--sufficient, but hands-off enough to allow the student to take the initiative. Incidentally, some of the reviewers here seem to have the original Wheelock's Latin in mind. This book, again, is a reader, suited to those who have completed that beginning Latin book or its equivalent.

The Wheelock series gets better every year as new anciallaries are developed. Dr. Grote's Comprehensive Guide make it accessible to students who lack the background presumed by the textbook itself, the workbook's graded exercises provide abundant reiforcement to the grammar and vocabulary, and now the new reader promises to assist in bridging the gap between "textbook Latin" and "real Latin."Those who criticize the traditional pedagogical methods miss the point of studying ancient languages. Classical langugages are not studied with the goal of conversing in the language, but with the twofold goal of gaining a reading knowledge of our culture's foundational texts and of developing orderly, logical thinking. These goals are most effectivly reached through learning highly inflected languages in the traditioal manner; this is not opinion -- it has been well documented by studies conducted by the American Classical League (which has no financial interest in promoting any one textbook). Having taught Latin for over ten years, from junior high to university, using a wide variety of textbooks, I say with conviction that the entertainment value of trendy texts is no match for the profound intellectual pleasure students (and teachers) derive from mastery of the difficult. If you want to keep students in your Latin program and simultaneously provide them intellectual tools that carry over into other disciplines, set them a reasonable challenge. The Wheelock is one of the best means of stretching students without breaking them. Hats off to Drs LaFleur, Comeau, and Grote for their splendid contributions to the Wheelock tradition.

The Wheelock Series is simply the best. After being a Classicist for well over 20 years, I still use them myself and recommend them to anyone who is SERIOUSLY interesting in the language. Experience has shown that the traditional methodology of learning grammar and syntax is still the best. Don't waste your time or money on the New Age warm and fuzzy propaganda of 'see and say'. Learn Latin the correct way, and it is a treasure which you will have for a lifetime.