Product Description

Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis; Caput Primum; Puer qui Vixit; 'Dominus et Domina Dursley, qui vivebant in aedibus Gestationis Ligustrorum numero quattor signatis...' this opening, also known as 'Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive...' has become one of the most read opening chapters in the world. Newly translated into Latin for the first time, this is following in the steps of other great children's classics, including Winnie the Pooh (winnie ille pu) and Paddington Bear (ursus nomine paddington). The huge task of translating into Latin (most translations are done from Latin) has been undertaken by Peter Needham, who taught Latin at Eton for over 30 years. James Morwood, of Oxford University, has said of the translation, 'The translation is great stuff. It is accurate and fluent, but it is much more than that. It has been carried off with wit, inventiveness, sensitivity and panache. I find it impossible to think of its being better done.'

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11918 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 249 pages

About the Author
The translator: Peter Needham taught Classics at Eton for over 30 years. He has also translated Paddington Bear into Latin, 'Ursus Nomine Paddington'. Peter Needham lives in Slough. 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' was J.K. Rowling's first novel, followed by 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets', 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban', and 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', as well as two books written specifically for Comic Relief and based on the Harry Potter novels, 'Fantastic Beasts and where to Find Them' and 'Quidditch through the Ages'. The Harry Potter novels have been prize-winning and consistently on the bestseller lists, and have now sold over 164 million copies world wide. Originally published as an author for children and still primarily so, JK Rowling has generated huge popular appeal for her books in an unprecedented fashion. JK Rowling was the first children's author to be voted the BA Author of the Year, and also to win the British Book Awards Author of the Year. A film of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone',distributed by Warner Brothers, has been released to huge success, with the sequel to come in November 2002.

Customer Reviews

liber splendidus!
I received this book for Christmas and am dashing through it, enjoying it immensely. The translation is witty and extremely well done, though as a previous reviewer has mentioned, it could have benefited immensely from a vocabulary sheet with the most obscure/paraphrased words on it. (Perhaps an online collaboration to write such would be a good idea?) However, to anyone who's read the English "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", the translation will come easily as it is almost word-for-word. Therefore, readers, if you get stuck - check the English version!

Regarding the level of Latin, I would say that a GCSE student would have little trouble. The grammar is really not difficult, as most of the book is in the perfect and imperfect tenses; the vocabulary is the only stumbling block, as mentioned. If you read it by getting a 'feel' for the words and meaning, rather than trying to translate every single word, you will steam through it in no time. I personally have an A-level in Latin but that was gained three years ago and I've become extremely rusty since. A-level students, or Classics undergraduates, should not have problems at all.

All in all an excellent read and it would be terrific to use passages in a classroom setting; here's hoping there'll be a Latin revival!

Far more fun than Caesar.

Extremely Challenging and Rewarding
I confess I did not rate "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" very highly when I first read it some years ago in the original. I thought Rowling's writing, though inventive, rather disappointingly derivative, and I still find her style irritating at times. I reminded myself that this was probably to be expected from a book aimed primarily at children, and did not bother with the subsequent books, though I have enjoyed the films.

Now, years later, having been pestered and bullied into reading "Half Blood Prince" by my children. I find that, as they had been saying, JKR's writing has become, as one might expect, rather darker, rather more adult, and frankly quite grippingly exciting. I wanted to read all the books, but still needed a challenge to keep me engrossed.

Harrius Potter is exactly what the doctor ordered. My education in Latin finished at O-Level (for those non-English readers that's an OWL) some twenty-eight (gasp!) years ago, but because of my amazing teacher (thank you Mrs. Lear!) I had a deep love for the language, and have always found it very useful in understanding English, as a step-up to the comprehension of other Indo-European languages, and of course indispensable for a career in the medical world.

There are those who would say, it seems, that Peter Needham's translation is not "good Latin" or is too simple. I am unqualified to comment on the first observation, but as to the second, I'm finding it an absolute delight. It's not too easy for me, at least, and not over-difficult, however it is challenging enough for me to feel that I'm stretching myself and getting all those little grey cells buzzing. I'm thoroughly enjoying the book in a way that I did not enjoy it when reading it in English.

I would suggest that for any student of Latin at a moderately elementary level (years three to five, perhaps?) reading this translation would be valuable and rewarding. I've awarded it only four stars because I would have REALLY appreciated a glossary and perhaps an introduction from Peter Needham.

I imagine that there might be a few other rather people out there like me with rusty Latin whose idea of a fun way to pass a half-term holiday is translating "Harrius Potter et et Philosophi Lapis" back into English, as I have. My children think I am certifiably insane, but sunt sua quique vitia, et dies diem docet, if you'll pardon the cliche.

Potter et philosophi lapis
This is an excellent introduction to Latin, and although the story is known, in Latin, it could become a good source for starting unseen translation. The Latin is concise and fluent {unlike some classical authors}; and it is a story that children enjoy. So what better introduction to Latin and the great treasury that this language holds, with adventure stories love stories in fact every genre that one could think of.

I reccomend this book whole heartidly and cannot wait to see it appear again in classical Greek.