Cornelius Nepos

An extremely interesting read in English with its corresponding Latin in the left column. Refreshing to see what was considered as an "Excellent Commander" given the role models presented today in an environment of political correctness and situational ethics. Highly recommend as a book relevant to the study of military history and ethics.

This is an instance where the combining on Library Thing works against some discussion of a work. Rolfe's work was intended for second year Latin students, and it is my assumption that this was at a university level, rather than high school. This third edition is noted for some slight revisions, that is "...the quantities have been made to conform with the lists in the Appendix to Bennett's Latin Grammar."

It's a fine book, presented in the original form, with notes explaining details such as show more colloquialisms of the day, and difficult words (encompassing perhaps one fourth of the book), and (of course) student exercises added at the end. The vocabulary begins with a re-pagination, and the words in it are what I based my assumptions as to the age level it was intended for.

The book itself is in less than "good" condition, as antique books go, with some loose pages, and some writing on the margins (and a slight amount of underlining), nearly all in pencil, but some in ink.

The lives themselves are worth reading, and I would recommend this work. If Latin is not your forte, try one of the excellent translations. show less

"in Antient history Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Diodorus Siculus, Cornelius Nepos, Livy, Sallust, Caesar, Tacitus form such a body as the Student would easily fill up in the after-portions of his life." - Thomas Jefferson to Jason Chamberlain, 1 Jul. 1814 [PTJ:RS 7:447-448]

"... [would be suitable for children] when at the reading school. Nothing would interest them more than such works as Cornelius Nepos." - Thomas Jefferson to Thomas J. Rogers, December 1823

"in Antient history Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Diodorus Siculus, Cornelius Nepos, Livy, Sallust, Caesar, Tacitus form such a body as the Student would easily fill up in the after-portions of his life." - Thomas Jefferson to Jason Chamberlain, 1 Jul. 1814 [PTJ:RS 7:447-448]

"... [would be suitable for children] when at the reading school. Nothing would interest them more than such works as Cornelius Nepos." - Thomas Jefferson to Thomas J. Rogers, 20 December 1823