The Natural Histories of Pliny the Elder ─ An Advanced Reader and Grammar Review

For students of Latin—even those at an advanced level—reading original works by Latin authors can be daunting. Students must remember a seemingly endless array of grammatical rules and vocabulary, and often the material to be translated seems dull and lengthy beyond endurance. Here P. L. Chambers overcomes these challenges through her engaging presentation of the writings of Pliny the Elder.

Pliny the Elder (23–79 a.d.) was a military officer and imperial administrator of the early Roman Empire. His avid interest in natural phenomena led him to write the Natural Histories, an encyclopedic work encompassing subjects as diverse as astronomy, geography, biology, zoology, botany, medicine, and gemology. The passages from the Natural Histories included here for translation are enjoyable to read and revealing of what first-century Romans thought about their world. Accompanying the Latin texts are the following features:

· Quick grammatical reviews at the start of each chapter

· Examples from the Latin passages that demonstrate relevant grammatical topics

· Sentence exercises based on the original text

· End-of-chapter vocabulary lists specific to the chapter readings

· Grammatical tables at the end of the book for quick reference

· A glossary that includes basic vocabulary

· A teacher’s key, available to instructors upon request

Classroom-tested by the author, this appealing reader motivates students to continue their study of Latin and provides a welcome alternative for instructors seeking accessible textbooks for their students.

P. L. Chambers is an instructor in the Department of Classics and Letters at the University of Oklahoma. The recipient of numerous awards for outstanding teaching, she is the author of Latin Alive and Well: An Introductory Text and The Attic Nights of Aulus Gellius: An Intermediate Reader and Grammar Review.