Product Description

Reading Medieval Latin is an introduction to medieval Latin in its cultural and historical context and is designed to serve the needs of students who have completed the learning of basic classical Latin morphology and syntax. (Users of Reading Latin will find that it follows on after the end of section 5 of that course.) It is an anthology, organised chronologically and thematically in four parts. Each part is divided into chapters with introductory material, texts, and commentaries which give help with syntax, sentence-structure, and background. There are brief sections on medieval orthography and grammar, together with a vocabulary which includes words (or meanings) not found in standard classical dictionaries. The texts chosen cover areas of interest to students of medieval history, philosophy, theology, and literature.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #320361 in Books
• Published on: 1995-08-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Review
"Keith Sidwell promises his readers a selection of Medieval Latin readings that will give a relatively unskilled Latinist a sound introduction to Medieval Latin from the beginnings of 'Christian Latin' to the twelfth-century Renaissance. Sidwell's book in fact offers his readers even more than he promises. His impressive knowledge of numerous aspects of medieval studies, his lively sense of human interest, and his enjoyment of the humorous make Reading Medieval Latin an illuminating and stimulating study of the Middle Ages." Bryn Mawr Classical Review

Review
"Keith Sidwell promises his readers a selection of Medieval Latin readings that will give a relatively unskilled Latinist a sound introduction to Medieval Latin from the beginnings of 'Christian Latin' to the twelfth-century Renaissance. Sidwell's book in fact offers his readers even more than he promises. His impressive knowledge of numerous aspects of medieval studies, his lively sense of human interest, and his enjoyment of the humorous make Reading Medieval Latin an illuminating and stimulating study of the Middle Ages." Bryn Mawr Classical Review

Customer Reviews

Excellent introduction
This follows the format of the Jones/Sidwell "Reading Latin" study course. Here Sidwell provides selections from a very wide cross-section of Medieval Latin writers, with each extract introduced and then followed by very detailed notes to aid translation. The differences between Medieval and Classical Latin syntax are also enumerated.

I'd suggest that Beeson's older "A Primer of Medieval Latin" is the more entertaining book, as it focusses more on narrative stories; but Sidwell's is probably more wide-ranging as well as packed with much more material to help the student. Both books are essential for any Latinist wanting to reach beyond the school curriculum of Classical authors.