Classics Textbooks

  • Book Series
  • 7 issues
  • ISSN Print: 2054-2437
  • ISSN Digital: 2054-2445

Ideal for school-level and University students of Latin, and for anybody studying the language for the first time, these Open Access textbooks present extracts from major works including Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Virgil’s Aeneid and Tacitus’s hair-raising descriptions of the excesses of the Emperor Nero in the Annals. The Latin is accompanied by extensive commentary that explores the meaning and context of the works, while interpretative essays serve as a model for students developing their own critical writing. Many of our engaging and lucid textbooks also offer study questions and background information as well as the latest scholarship. Also available in free interactive editions with teachers’ comments, they are vital resources for all students of Latin.

Cicero, Against Verres, 2.1.53–86: Latin Text with Introduction, Study Questions, Commentary and English Translation - cover image
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Cicero, Against Verres, 2.1.53–86: Latin Text with Introduction, Study Questions, Commentary and English Translation

  • Ingo Gildenhard
Looting, despoiling temples, attempted rape and judicial murder: these are just some of the themes of this classic piece of writing by one of the world’s greatest orators. Providing a portion of the original text of Cicero’s speech in Latin, a detailed commentary, study aids and a translation, this book will be of particular interest to students at both high-school and undergraduate level. It will also be a valuable resource for Latin teachers and for anyone interested in Cicero, language and rhetoric, and the legal culture of Ancient Rome.
Virgil, Aeneid, 4.1–299: Latin Text, Study Questions, Commentary and Interpretative Essays - cover image
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Virgil, Aeneid, 4.1–299: Latin Text, Study Questions, Commentary and Interpretative Essays

  • Ingo Gildenhard
Love and tragedy dominate book four of Virgil’s most powerful work, building on the violent emotions invoked by the storms, battles, warring gods, and monster-plagued wanderings of the epic’s opening. This course book offers a portion of the original Latin text, study questions, a commentary and interpretative essays. Extending beyond detailed linguistic analysis to encourage critical engagement with Virgil’s poetry and discussion of the most recent scholarly thought, Ingo Gildenhard’s incisive commentary will be of particular interest to students of Latin at both high-school and undergraduate level.
Tacitus, Annals, 15.20-23, 33-45: Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary - cover image
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Tacitus, Annals, 15.20-23, 33-45: Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary

  • Mathew Owen
  • Ingo Gildenhard
The emperor Nero is etched into the Western imagination as one of ancient Rome’s most infamous villains, and Tacitus’ Annals have played a central role in shaping the mainstream historiographical understanding of this flamboyant autocrat. This book offers a portion of the original Latin text, study aids with vocabulary, and a commentary. Designed to stretch and stimulate readers, the incisive commentary will be of particular interest to both high-school and undergraduate students. It extends beyond detailed linguistic analysis and historical background to encourage critical engagement with Tacitus’ prose and discussion of the most recent scholarly thought.
Cicero, On Pompey's Command (De Imperio), 27-49: Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, Commentary, and Translation - cover image
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Cicero, On Pompey's Command (De Imperio), 27-49: Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, Commentary, and Translation

  • Ingo Gildenhard
  • Louise Hodgson
This course book offers a portion of the original Latin text, study aids with vocabulary, and a commentary. Designed to stretch and stimulate readers, the incisive commentary will be of particular interest to students of Latin at both AS and undergraduate level. It extends beyond detailed linguistic analysis and historical background to encourage critical engagement with Cicero's prose and discussion of the most recent scholarly thought.
Ovid, Metamorphoses, 3.511-733: Latin Text with Introduction, Commentary, Glossary of Terms, Vocabulary Aid and Study Questions - cover image
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Ovid, Metamorphoses, 3.511-733: Latin Text with Introduction, Commentary, Glossary of Terms, Vocabulary Aid and Study Questions

  • Ingo Gildenhard
  • Andrew Zissos
This course book offers a wide-ranging introduction, the original Latin text, study aids with vocabulary, and an extensive commentary. Designed to stretch and stimulate readers, Gildenhard and Zissos's incisive commentary will be of particular interest to students of Latin at AS and undergraduate level. It extends beyond detailed linguistic analysis to encourage critical engagement with Ovid's poetry and discussion of the most recent scholarly thought.
Cicero, Philippic 2, 44–50, 78–92, 100–119: Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary - cover image
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Cicero, Philippic 2, 44–50, 78–92, 100–119: Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary

  • Ingo Gildenhard
Conceived as Cicero’s response to a verbal attack from Antony in the Senate, Philippic 2 is a rhetorical firework that ranges from abusive references to Antony’s supposedly sordid sex life to a sustained critique of what Cicero saw as Antony’s tyrannical ambitions. This course book offers a portion of the original Latin text, vocabulary aids, study questions, and an extensive commentary. Designed to stretch and stimulate readers, Ingo Gildenhard’s volume will be of particular interest to students of Latin studying for A-Level or on undergraduate courses. It extends beyond detailed linguistic analysis to encourage critical engagement with Cicero, his oratory, the politics of late-republican Rome, and the transhistorical import of Cicero’s politics of verbal (and physical) violence.
Virgil, Aeneid 11, Pallas and Camilla, 1–224, 498–521, 532–596, 648–689, 725–835: Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary - cover image
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Virgil, Aeneid 11, Pallas and Camilla, 1–224, 498–521, 532–596, 648–689, 725–835: Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary

  • Ingo Gildenhard
  • John Henderson
This course book offers the original Latin text, vocabulary aids, study questions, and an extensive commentary. Designed to stretch and stimulate readers, Ingo Gildenhard’s volume will be of particular interest to students of Latin studying for A-Level or on undergraduate courses. It extends beyond detailed linguistic analysis to encourage critical engagement with Virgil’s poetry and the most recent scholarly thought.