Rating: 
Summary: Another translator's view
Review: It needs a high degree of concentration, plenty of time and not a little courage to undertake a translation like this, which is a very different thing from the tasks typically given to students and, if it is to be criticised, it should be reviewed with that in mind.
I, like others, would have liked to see from Mr. Needham an introduction describing his approach; that's all that stops me awarding the fifth star. But, I'm also not too sure about the lack of capital letters: if it's an authentic feel that's needed, we should, perhaps, have nothing but capitals.But I will defend most heartily Mr. Needham's syntax. This is not a Ciceronian essay. It is a translation accurately tempered to the style of the original. What would have been the point in its being otherwise? There is no classical model to follow, no classical author whose style might be imitated. This really is a book to be enjoyed.
Rating: 
Summary: Please Do the Rest of Them!
Review: This is a smooth and clever translation, perfect for the person who wants an enjoyable quick read to refurbish fluency in the language. The bright style of the original is preserved, and it is obvious that the translator has his own sense of humor as well, playing with words and phrasing without sacrificing accuracy. This book would make an excellent supplementary text for students at about second-year level. I would like to see the other books in the series put into Latin, although I know that is too much to hope for; however, these books would be a wonderful study series if translated in accord with the level of the book in English, each becoming more complex.
Rating:
Summary: Many children's classics are translated into Latin
Review: This is but one of the many children's classics that are translated into Latin. Naturally there are going to be people that will pick apart the book and say that is not correct form or syntax. Then again Harrius Potter has not been around that long. And pulling it apart is really part of the fun. Just remember that the translator Peter Needham taught classics at Eton for more than thirty years.
Let's face it, it is easer and more fun to read something you already know. Also it is fun to see how certain phrases and newer concepts are handled. Learning Latin this way also helps kids pass English tests in school by learning root concepts.
So all together now:
Dominus et Domina Dursley, qiu ...
Rating:
Summary: More please
Review: Yes there should be more of these available. Does the market warrant it? A problem with reading translations of any sort as part of learning a language is finding something relevant to read. Since most things available are not contemporary or fun, having something a student has most likely already read in their native language available in the target language can do several wonderful things for the student. It can be pleasurable reading in the target language something the student already "knows" since that will save dictionary look-up time and there will be a pleasure of discovery in figuring out the previously unknown word for oneself. My regards to the effort involved in this project. It also makes the use of certain magical spells in Latin or something much like it an interesting and thought provoking exercise.
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