A dead language, a brilliant textbook, and the legacy of a favorite high school teacher.
Who knew learning Latin could be so fun? With its clever ink drawings and saucy stories from a Pompeiian household, the Cambridge Latin Course has entertained high school students since its first edition in 1970. The only thing missing: a quick-witted teacher, who was able to win over the most reluctant foreign-language student.
Note and Miscellanea
- Early in the first book, students encounter the phrase “Grumio ancillam delectat,” which translates as “Grumio pleases the slave girl.” To a bunch of 14-year-olds, this is the greatest line ever published.
- Granted, the Cambridge Latin Course has a near-monopolistic presence in high school Latin classes. But the series also has a substantial cult following, which extends into social media, parody, and even a Dr. Who episode.
- No Ancient Romans were ever recorded, of course, but linguists are confident that C’s were always hard and V’s sounded like W’s, among other phonological conclusions. The pronunciation in this film is based on the best research available back in 1993–97.
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