Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis (Latin language edition) [Latin] [Hardcover]

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.

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.

I only studied Latin for a couple of years and whilst I think my teacher would have liked me to continue to GCSE, I felt that there really wasn't much point - I wasn't going to be a doctor or a lawyer so I didn't need to study a 'dead' (for want of a better word!) language.

The textbooks we had at school, whilst teaching you about Roman society and history were not quite as exciting as a Harry Potter book (or even a Paddington or Winnie-the-Pooh book) would have been! Modern stories translated into Latin bring it much more to life - they make you want to read just like a book translated into French, Spanish or German!

I am deeply saddened that many schools do not even offer Latin anymore (I believe my old school has dispensed with the subject after the teacher retired). It seems a shame that such a valuable language as far as teaching the rudiments of grammar etc. should be abandoned. I am sure that translations of popular books would reawaken interest in the study of Latin.

I reckon my old teacher would be proud of me if she knew I had a copy of Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis - it might make up for forsaking her subject all those years ago!