From Alpha to Omega, An Introduction to Classical Greek, Rev Third Edition

Rating:
Summary: Looking forward to 4th Edition
Review: As a first year Greek student I base my opinion of this text not on my expertise in the language but on my use of the text itself.

I have no complaints about the content of the text; it seems reasonably paced and thoughtfully developed.

My two critiques (I hope contructive in anticipation of the 4th edition)are thus:
1. The text still contains typos (including within the Greek paradigms) that I am surprised to find in a third edition.
2. The formatting of paradigm tables (particularly in the appendices) leaves something to be desired. The content is complete but they could be laid out better. I suspect that formatting has been compromised for the sake of space. My own opinion (speaking chiefly as a spreadsheet fanatic) is that it would be worth killing a few more papyri for the sake of tables that are intuitive to look at. I would gladly incur the necessary extra cost.

I recommend this text but sincerely hope a 4th edition is in the works.

Rating:
Summary: Using this book helps
Review: It is an very good companion to a classroom setting, which I am currently enduring, especially with the ancillary exercises which are also essential. I do enjoy the extra detail & find that annotating the book makes classroom note taking unnecessary. It is very well organized: the E-G/G-E dictionaries are keyed to the chapters, & the index, with topics keyed to sections rather than pages, extremely helpful & thorough. When a new principal part is introduced, all principal parts of all previous verbs are reprinted. When the old brain is burned out, just reading the grammatical explanations is therapeutic. It would be nice to have the Greek passages double spaced or in a larger font, so that my work/glosses can be pencilled right into the text, but I doubt any publisher would spring for that. No doubt about it, learning Ancient Greek is tough, tough, tough, unless you have a hoover for a brain. Using this book (with a good prof) helps.

Rating:
Summary: Hillarious
Review: This book was my first introduction to the language. It is a good mix of reading selections (which grow in size and complexity as you progress), vocabulary, and blurbs in English about the function of the language. The exercises given in each chapter exhasperate and delight as you realize that you are translating a sentence which reads, "Hurry, O Goddess! They hasten out of their tents and into the ocean." Or, "Pay heed, O Lady of the house! The letters are on the couch!"

Ever wonder how to decline "Socrates"?

This book is best if you have a good sense of humor. The one thing it is not very helpful with is accentuation. It does explain the topic, but it's explanation is quite poor.