Publisher's Synopsis
This work supplies a want of which we have long been painfully conscious. Of the text-books commonly used in this department of study, some are characterized by a vagueness and accuracy of expression which very greatly impair their value; while others, and those among the best, give us a mass of details which might be made serviceable by intelligent arrangement and generalization; but which, in their present condition, are little better than a chaos, in the darkness of which the young student wanders hopelessly. Professor Gildersleeve's work is of an order altogether different. He treats his subject rationally, not as a mere matter of memory; and his statements are so clear and precise that there can be no doubt as to his exact meaning. He presents us with the latest results of philological investigation, -- so far, at least, as these are necessary to a school book, and exhibits Grammar, not as a bundle of mechanical rules, but as a science, or the reflex of mind. Among the points we have particularly noticed, are the following:
1st. . 6. Most of the so-called Impersonal Verbs are put back into their proper place. Some verbs are, however, retained among Impersonals, whose right to be there is at least doubtful.
2nd. 21, p. Ill, and seq. The exposition of tenses is admirable, especially for clearness and precision; preserving with great success the juste milieu between the imperfect statements made by some authors for the sake of being practical, and the metaphysical refinements of others which would be unsuitable to the class of students for whom their works are intended. Ihe parallelisms between English and Latin constructions, form one of the pleasing and instructive features of Dr. Gildersleeve's Grammar. His remarks on the sequence of tenses, also, furnish the young student a better guide than can be found in any other work within our knowledge.
3d. To do justice to Professor Gildersleeve's treatment of words -- by the most difficult part of Latin Syntax -- would far surpass the limits of a book notice. Compare his work with any other treatise hitherto in use, and its superiority will be manifest.
4th. The system of Cases is well handled; especially in regard to the Ablative. ( 181, p 171). The transition from the primary to the secondary power of this Case, is brought out with remarkable clearness.
5th. The specimens of translation, which occur incidentally, are a decided improvement on those generally met with. The author never forgets the difference between a translation and a paraphrase. His English varies, both as to choice of words, and as to construction, with every variation of his original.
--The Southern Review, Vol. 3.