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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.'
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.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The idea of translating popular books into Latin is excellent, and this version is on the whole fluent and accurate. Or if it isn't, I am probably not equipped to challenge a senior Eton Latin master.
That said, the rendering does seem a little wooden and literal. All those plonking "dominus" (for Mr) and "Visli" (for Weasley) could be avoided by a more imaginative transposition into a Latin-speaking world: I'm told the Greek version fares rather better in this respect. One is occasionally reminded of the painful Latin dialogue in the film "Sebastiane", in which someone uses "excrementum" as a swear word. Worst, perhaps, is the point where Hagrid reveals "Harrie: tu es magus". That means "Harry; YOU (not someone else) are a wizard". The flavour of the original "yer a wizard" would be better rendered by "magus es". (Unless, of course, the translator is deliberately parodying "Tu es Petrus".) Nor can I believe that any Latin-speaker would have said "hic laetus, laetus dies".
The problem with all such work is that, no matter how much Latin one knows, one cannot avoid importing some flavour of one's native language; and unfortunately we can't ask an ancient Roman to proof-read! Perhaps every translation from English to Latin should be vetted by a professor of Latin from a non-English-speaking country, to eliminate any mere Anglicisms.
Still, as a teaching tool, and a reasonably easy read for someone with some knowledge of the language, well done.
That said, the rendering does seem a little wooden and literal. All those plonking "dominus" (for Mr) and "Visli" (for Weasley) could be avoided by a more imaginative transposition into a Latin-speaking world: I'm told the Greek version fares rather better in this respect. One is occasionally reminded of the painful Latin dialogue in the film "Sebastiane", in which someone uses "excrementum" as a swear word. Worst, perhaps, is the point where Hagrid reveals "Harrie: tu es magus". That means "Harry; YOU (not someone else) are a wizard". The flavour of the original "yer a wizard" would be better rendered by "magus es". (Unless, of course, the translator is deliberately parodying "Tu es Petrus".) Nor can I believe that any Latin-speaker would have said "hic laetus, laetus dies".
The problem with all such work is that, no matter how much Latin one knows, one cannot avoid importing some flavour of one's native language; and unfortunately we can't ask an ancient Roman to proof-read! Perhaps every translation from English to Latin should be vetted by a professor of Latin from a non-English-speaking country, to eliminate any mere Anglicisms.
Still, as a teaching tool, and a reasonably easy read for someone with some knowledge of the language, well done.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis in the eyes of a GCSE Latin...
I received this book today, having ordered it two days ago, and thus was very happy with such a swift delivery. Read more
Published 1 month ago by The Hollister Butler
The quality of the Latin could be better
Needham's Latin is unidiomatic and sterilized. I quickly became annoyed with the unnatural Latin and was unable to finish the book. There are also some anglicisms. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Daniel Arseneault
Superb Fun
It was lots of fun reading this book and having it in Latin was a special treat indeed. The translation is great and reading it I felt that the book was written in Latin. Read more
Published 19 months ago by B. Smith
This Charming Story Transfers Well into Latin
This translation of a charming tale maintains the light storytelling style of the original. Harrius's adventures are not merely a literal translation but use authentic Latin... Read more
Published on 10 July 2009 by Dan F
Fantastic fun!
Absolutely the best bit of Latin I have ever read - I read it with a friend, and we both agree that the Latin for something like 'Dudley was throwing his cereal at the ceiling', is... Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2009 by Penny Fisher
A delight.
As a Latin student entering my fourth year, I did find this very challenging. However, as a lover of both the language and the story, it was a wonderful read. Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2007 by Saria Flavia Latina
Potter for the latinate
This is a must-read for latinate Potter fans. I bought my copy at Blackwells in Oxford last August. The posters were proclaiming it as a first edition and deliveries were selling... Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2006 by Robert Bass
Excellent
I bought this for a friend as a present. It's a good quality hard back. I can't comment on the quality of the Latin, as I'm not good enough to know the difference,... Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2006 by Ms. J. Kay
Very Enjoyable
Having grown up with Harry Potter (and indeed whole piles of books I enjoyed less and whole piles of books I enjoyed more) and being in my 5th year as a latin student, I began... Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2005 by mel-a
If only this had been available when I was at school...
If only this had been available when I was at school...
...I might have contemplated studying Latin longer than I did. Read more
...I might have contemplated studying Latin longer than I did. Read more
Published on 19 July 2005 by hmcni
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