A Roman Boy

Jones, W. H. S. (William Henry Samuel), 1876-1963Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 134K words
Chapters: 14

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971, and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today. Puer romanus by R. B. Appleton and W. H. S. Jones. Author: Jones, W. H. S. (William Henry Samuel), 1876–1963. Language: Latin. Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature. Release Date: Mar 15, 2018

Editor's review

This Puer romanus is an introductory reader for Latin beginners compiled in the early twentieth century by Appleton and Jones, both long engaged in classical language teaching; it is a public-domain classic textbook. Its value lies not in literary originality but in recounting Roman daily life and historical stories in simple Latin, with syntax progressing from easy to complex and vocabulary recurring frequently, helping learners build a feel for the language in low-threshold contexts. As a Project Gutenberg electronic text, it is easy to search, copy, and print, making it suitable as supplementary classroom material or among the first original texts for self-learners after an introductory course. Note that it was compiled long ago, and its arrangement differs from contemporary textbooks, lacking systematic grammar explanation and answer keys; it should be used alongside a dictionary or grammar. When reading, it is advisable to read a short passage closely each day: first read through for the gist, then analyze cases and verb forms sentence by sentence, and compile recurring vocabulary into a personal word list.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Self-learners with basic Latin grammar who wish to begin reading original texts
Teachers and students of beginning Latin courses in secondary school or university
Enthusiasts of classical languages interested in daily life in ancient Rome
Professionals who need free public-domain Latin texts for teaching or adaptation

Not a good fit for

Absolute beginners with no Latin who need systematic grammar instruction
General readers seeking translations of classical literary masterpieces rather than simple readers
Language learners expecting modern pedagogy with exercises and audio materials

Reading tips

Read a short passage closely each day: first read through for the plot, then analyze cases and verb forms sentence by sentence.
Build a personal word list, recording high-frequency vocabulary and its common collocations and usages beyond the medieval period.
Use a basic Latin grammar and a Latin–English dictionary, consulting them promptly when encountering difficult sentences.
Try translating on your own before checking notes for comprehension, and finally read the passage aloud to develop a feel for the language.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for someone with zero Latin learning Latin?

Not really. It is a simple reader that assumes readers already know basic inflection and common syntax, and it lacks systematic grammar explanation and exercises. Absolute beginners should first complete an introductory textbook, then use this book as one of their first reading materials.

How difficult is the Latin in the book?

Overall it falls between beginner and lower-intermediate level: sentences are short, vocabulary recurs frequently, and topics are close to daily life, but syntax gradually becomes more complex as the book progresses, so a dictionary and grammar reference are still needed.

What practical advice is there for reading the electronic edition?

You can use the electronic text's search function to find repeated words and sentences, and copy passages for annotated translation; printing it out or reading in split screen with a dictionary and grammar tables open alongside is recommended, taking notes as you read.

Can this book replace a standard Latin textbook?

No. It is positioned as reading material rather than a course, and its grammar system and exercise design are incomplete; it should be used with a textbook as part of consolidation and extended reading.

Comments

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About the author

Jones, W. H. S. (William Henry Samuel), 1876-1963 Author

W. H. S. Jones (William Henry Samuel Jones, 1876–1963) was a British classical scholar; public information on his life and academic career is limited, and only two of his works are held in this catalog. His representative titles, Puer romanus and Pons tironum, are both Latin teaching texts, their names meaning roughly "The Roman Boy" and "The Recruit's Bridge." They were evidently written for beginners, using simple, accessible Latin to guide readers into the language. Such readers typically progress gradually in vocabulary and syntax while introducing elements of classical culture, and they have had practical value in Latin teaching in the English-speaking world. As the catalog provides no information on his nationality, posts, or awards, no inferences are made here; the above remarks concern only the subject matter and purpose of his works.