Recommended Books for JCL

This list is posted at the Texas State Junior Classical League website and other places. It is a useful list to those preparing for JCL or just trying to build a good classroom library.

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GRAMMAR

Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, Edited by J. B. Greenough, A. A. Howard, G. L. Kittredge, & Benj. L. D'Oogle, Caratzas Brothers, New York, 1975.  The ultimate source for grammar.  Recommended for advanced students.  Available in paperback.

New Latin Grammar, Charles E. Bennett, Allyn and Bacon, Boston, 1969.  A good grammar, but not as comprehensive as Allen and Greenough's.  Now available in paperback from Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers.

A Student's Latin Grammar, Cambridge Latin Course, Robin M. Griffin, Revised and Supplemented by Ed Phinney, Cambridge University Press, 1992.  A good source for first and second year students although it often does not give the names of constructions.

The Latin Language:  A Handbook for Students, Scottish Classics Group, Oliver & Boyd, 1989.  Another good source for first and second year students, but also lacking construction names.

Gildersleeves’ Latin Grammar, Basil L. Gildersleeve & Gonzalez Lodge, Bolchazy Carducci Publishers, 1997.  Paperback.  This is the most comprehensive grammar after Allen & Greenough which is hard to find.

The Amsco Review Texts and state adopted textbooks are also recommended.

VOCABULARY

Basic Latin Vocabulary, Donald J. Brunel, Jr., order from the ACL Teaching Materials and Resource Center, No. B101

Amsco Review Texts (particularly the sections on synonyms, antonyms, & related words) and state adopted textbooks are excellent beginning sources for vocabulary.

The ultimate authority ( but not a recommended study source) for vocabulary items is Lewis & Short's A Latin Dictionary.

LATIN DERIVATIVES

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, William Morris, editor, High School or New College Edition,  Houghton-Mifflin Company, 1994.   The final authority for derivatives.  Make sure to buy an edition with the invaluable section on Indo-European roots. 

English Words from Latin and Greek Elements, Donald M. Ayers, Second Edition, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1986.  Also recommended for the study of Greek Derivatives.  A workbook is also avaiable.

Book of Roots:  A Full Study of Our Families of Words, Duane Beeler, Union Representative,  Chicago, 1988.  Lists all the families of words within English and shows their roots and derivative meanings.  Paperback available from Union Representative, 430 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605.

English Vocabulary Quick Reference, A Comprehensive Dictionary Arranged by Word Roots, 

Roger S. Crutchfield,, LexaDyne Publishing, Inc., Leesburg, VA, ISBN 0-9659138-0-5, To Order call 1-888-599-4700.

MOTTOES, PHRASES, ABBREVIATIONS, & FAMOUS QUOTATIONS

Cree's Dictionary of Latin Quotations, Newbury Books, 1979.  Call 1-617-887-5082 to request an order form.

Amo, Amas, Amat and More, Eugene Ehrlich, Harper & Row, New York, 1985.  An extensive list of Latin phrases and some mottoes with explanations.  

Veni, Vidi, Vici, Eugene Ehrlich., Harper & Row, New York, 1995.  Sequel to Amo, Amas, Amat and More.

The Anchor Book of Latin Quotations, Norbert Guterman, Anchor Books, Doubleday, 1966.

A comprehensive compilation of  Latin quotations with English translations.  Organized by author.

Latin for the Illiterati, Jon R. Stone, Routledge, New York, 1996.

A wonderful new source of common words, expression, sayings, abbreviations from Latin.

Many dictionaries include abbreviations and phrases.

MYTHOLOGY

Classical Mythology, Mark Morford & Robert Lenardon, Third  (or later) Edition, Longman, Inc., White Plains, NY, 1985.  A good source for students beginning their study of myth.

Gods and Mortals in Classical Mythology:  A Dictionary, Michael Grant & John Hazel, G. & C. Merriam Company, Springfield, MA, 1973.  Often available from other publishers in paperback.

The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology, Edward Tripp, The American Library, Inc, New Jersey, 1970.  Also available in paperback.

Dictionary of Classical Mythology, J. E. Zimmerman, Bantam Books, New York, 1964.

Myths and their Meaning, Max J. Herzberg, Prentice Hall School Division, Columbus, Ohiop, 1984.  Available in paperback.  A good source for the student studying myth for the first time.

The Penguin Dictionary of Mythology, Pierre Gremal, Penguin Books, 1996.

Advanced myth students should be familiar with the primary sources (in translation) of Homer, Hesiod, the Greek tragedians, Vergil, Ovid, & Apollonius Rhodius.

ROMAN HISTORY

A History of Rome, M. Cary & H. H. Scullard, Third Edition, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1975.   The ultimate authority for the Roman History test along with the OCD, but a difficult source for many first year students.

The Oxford Classical Dictionary, N. G. L. Hammond & H. H. Scullard, Editors, Second Edition, The Oxford University Press, Oxford, England, 1970.  An excellent reference source for life, literature, and history.  A sine qua non for serious certamen players.

A History of Rome to A.D. 565, William G. Sinnigen & Arthur E. R. Boak, Sixth Edition, Macmillan, New York.  A comprehensive and well-written source, especially for history after the death of Constantine.

The Penguin Dictionary of Ancient History, Graham Speaker, Editor, Penguin Books, 1994.

A good source in dictionary format.

A History of  Rome, Marcel Le Glay, Jean-Louis Voisin,  &Yann Le Bohec, translated by Antonia Nevill, Blackwell Publishers, Malden, MA, 1996.  A very comprehensive and readable source even for beginning students of history.  Paperback edition available from Amazon.com.

ROMAN LIFE

Daily Life in Ancient Rome, Jerome Carcopino, Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 1940. Available in paperback.  A detailed classic study of Roman life, conveniently arranged.

Private Life of the Romans, Harold Johnston, Scott, Foresman, Glenview, IL., 1972 reprint. An excellent source with most of the important Latin terminology.

Roman Life, Mary Johnston, Scott, Foresman, Glenview, IL., 1957.  A revision of her father's book with lots of illustrations.  Good source for first year students.

Daily Life in Ancient Rome, Florence Dupont, Blackwell Publishers, 1989.  An interesting source with lots of good information but very few illustrations.

LATIN LITERATURE

Greek and Roman Authors, Michael Grant, H. W. Wilson Company, New York, 1980. Dictionary format.  Appendix contains a chronological list of authors by century.  Also a source for the Greek Life and Literature Test.

A History of Latin Literature, Moses Hadas, Columbia University Press, New York, 1952. Difficult source for beginning students.

The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature, Revised Edition, Paul Harvey, Editor, Oxford University Press, Oxford, England, 1966.   An excellent source.  The ultimate authority for the test.

The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature, New Edition, M. C. Howatson, Editor, Oxford University Press, Oxford, England, 1989.  An update of the original listed above.  More readable than the first edition, but lacking some Latin terms.

Roman Classics, Mary Ellen Snodgrass, Cliffs Notes Inc., Lincoln, Nebraska, 1988.  A good beginning source for major authors.

Latin Literature, Gian Biagio Conte, translated by Joseph B. Solodow, John Hopkins University Press, 1994.  This is a revised edition and a very complete source.  Highly recommended.

The Cambridge History of Classical Literature II:  Latin Literature, E. J. Kenney and W. V. Clausen, editors,  Cambridge University Press, 1982.  A very complete source which is unfortunately very expensive. 

GREEK HISTORY

Ancient Greece, Peter Green, Thames and Hudson, London, 1973.  An illustrated paperback.  Recommended for beginning students.

Classical Greece, C. M. Bowra, Time-Life Books, 1966.  In most libraries, a good source for first year students.

A History of Greece, J. B. Bury and Russell Meiggs, Third Edition, St. Martin's Press, London, 1967.  The ultimate authority for the test, along with the OCD.  Not recommended for beginning students.

A History of Greece to 322 B.C., N. G. L. Hammond, Third Edition, Clarendon Press, Oxford, England, 1987.  A very comprehensive work, but not recommended for beginning students.  Available in paperback.

The Life of Greece, Will Durant, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1939.  Very Comprehensive, but quite readable.

The Pelican History of Greece, A. R. Burn, Penguin Books, 1974.  Paperback.  A very comprehensive source.

GREEK DERIVATIVES

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, William Morris, editor, High School or New College Edition,  Houghton-Mifflin Company, 1994.   The final authority for derivatives.  Invaluable section on Indo-European roots.

Greek-English Derivative Dictionary, Rudolp F. Schaeffer, American Classical League, Oxford, Ohio.   Order from ACL Teaching Materials and Resource Center.

See the sources under Latin derivatives.

GREEK LIFE AND LITERATURE

The Ancient Greeks, M. I. Finley, Viking Press, New York, 1964.  Includes some history.

The Greeks,  Susan Peach & Anne Millard, from the The Usborne Illustrated World History, Usborne Publishing Company, Tulsa Oklahoma, 1990.  A good beginning source.

The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature, New Edition, M. C. Howatson, Editor, Oxford University Press, Oxford, England, 1989. The ultimate authority for the literature portion of the test.

Most of the sources listed for Greek History also have sections on life and literature.

GEOGRAPHY OF THE ANCIENT WORLD

The Atlas of Classical History, Richard J. A. Talbert, Editor, Routledge, London & New York, 1985.  Black and white maps, but very comprehensive.

Atlas of the Greek World, Peter Levi, Facts on File, Inc., New York, 1982.  Beautiful maps and illustrations.  

Atlas of the Roman World, Tim Cornell & John Matthews, Facts on File, Inc., New York, 1982.  Beautiful maps and illustrations.  Very comprehensive.

The Penguin Atlas of Ancient History, Colin McEvedy, Penguin Books, 1967.  Small print.  Maps very general.

The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome, Chris Scarre, Viking, Penguin Books, New York, 1995.  Excellent source with lots of color, good maps and readable text.

The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Greece, Robert Morkot, Penguin Books, New York, 1996.  Excellent source with color maps and clear text.

The Atlas of the Ancient World,  Margaret Oliphant, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1992.

Interesting sections on Greece and Rome with good illustrations.

The Ancient Roman City, John E. Stambaugh, John Hopkins University Press,  Baltimore, 1988.   The definitive source on the city of Rome.

DECATHLON

Students preparing for the Decathlon test should use the sources listed above.  Be sure to check the contest rules for the categories covered on the TSJCL Decathlon Test.

Revised September 1999

Last update December 3, 1999. This site was re-created August 1998 by Ginny Lindzey, Webmistress, Texas Classical Association. All text and graphics are copyrighted. Original photo of arch by Roger Robison. To report problems and to get permission to reprint articles, please contact Ginny at ginlindzey@lindzey.us