Cambridge Latin Course
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The Cambridge Latin Course (CLC) is a series of textbooks published by Cambridge University Press, used to teach Latin to secondary school students. First published in 1970, the series is now in its fifth edition, and has sold over 3 million copies.
Using the language theories of Noam Chomsky, the textbook's authors employ a reading method that programmatically stresses inductive language learning as opposed to more traditional deductive, or prescriptive, methods of teaching Latin (i.e. "grammar and translation"). In the belief that learning a language is different from learning "about the language," the CLC stresses reading for comprehension rather than for translation.[citation needed]
The books chronicle the adventures of Roman citizen Quintus Caecilius Iucundus, in Latin, and aim to introduce students to vocabulary, grammar and the cultural background of the Latin language.
The British edition consists of five books, while the North American edition consists of four units. This is because Unit 3 of the North American edition contains the material from Books III and IV of the British edition. The first half of Unit 4 includes the material from Book V, while the second half consists of selections from original Latin texts.
The first book has actually very little to do with Quintus, mainly because at the time he is just a boy; instead it is more a tale of his father Caecilius's adventures in Pompeii from the reign of Nero to that of Vespasian. Sometimes the book deviates, to talk about Caecilius's two slaves, Grumio and Clemens, and their frequent humorous mishaps. The book ends when Mount Vesuvius erupts, and Caecilius is killed in Pompeii. However, the book leaves the reader wondering whether Quintus survived.
The beginning of the second book is set in Roman Britain near Fishbourne Roman Palace under Agricola, where Quintus meets Salvius and King Cogidubnus. The books starts off by meeting a new family, a Roman aristocrat, Salvius, who is a successful lawyer and senator in Rome. His family includes his wife, Rufilla, and many slaves, some of whom are Britons, others foreign. In the second half of the book, Quintus tells King Cogidubnus about his journey to Alexandria, where Quintus was reunited with Clemens, and met Barbillus.
The third book picks up in the Roman province of Britain. Quintus distances himself from the scheming Salvius, who is plotting to kill one of Quintus' friends.
In the fourth book, the setting moves to Rome, a few years before the events in Britain. Quintus is absent, but Salvius, his ally Haterius, and several other Roman aristocrats, as well as some ordinary citizens (plebs), star.
[edit] Recurring characters
- Quintus Caecilius Iucundus, wealthy son of a banker.
- Lucius Caecilius Iucundus, banker, father of Quintus.
- Metella, Caecilius' wife, Quintus' mother.
- Grumio, their adventurous, sometimes drunk, cook.
- Lucius Spurius Pompeonius: Alter ego of Grumio, used as a cheap ploy to get money
- Poppea, Grumio's lover, also a slave
- Lucrio, Poppea's elderly master
- Clemens, a loyal slave whom Quintus frees later. He then sets up a glassware shop in Alexandria
- Cerberus, the Iucundus family dog
- Melissa, a slave girl bought by Caecilius.
- Syphax, a slave trader, presumably from the Middle East.
- Felix, a former slave of Caecilius, saved infant Quintus from a robber
- Marcus, Roman citizen, brother of Quartus
- Quartus, Roman Citizen, brother of Marcus
- Sulla, scribe who finds himself in the middle of a feud between Marcus and Quartus
- Julius, friend of Caecilius
- Gāius Salvius Līberālis, a wealthy, devious, senator.
- Rufilla, Salvius's wife, relative of Quintus.
- Bregans, a lazy British slave.
- Barbillus, a wealthy Alexandrian.
- Rufus, Barbillus' son.
- Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus, King of the Regnenses tribe in Britain.
- Belimicus, a greedy Briton, chief of the Cantiaci. Rival of Dumnorix.
- Dumnorix, an honest Briton, chief of the Regnenses. Rival of Belimicus.
- Lucius Marcius Memor, a greedy, obese, actual, haruspex (soothsayer.)
- Cephalus, Memor's assistant.
- Modestus, a simple, clumsy, Roman soldier stationed in Britain.
- Strythio, a friend and fellow soldier of Modestus.
- Vilbia, native Briton, admirer of Modestus.
- Q. Haterius Latronianus, friend and client of Salvius, an architect in Rome.
