Clavis Apollinis

by William J. Simpson

Clavis Apollinis is a modern myth for modern students of Latin. This short novel approaches core grammar and vocabulary, including conversational phrases and neo-Latin, in an easy story suitable for all ages. A full Latin-English glossary provides quick reference for each word in the novel.

32 pages, Paperback

Published May 26, 2015

Reviews

[Dana Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Level D (Intermediate Low)
This was another delightful little read. Although Magister Stoa puts this at Level D, to me it was an easier read than William J. Simpson’s other novella, Iter Icarus. I would probably put this book in the Novice range.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't always like the "he was a regular spoiled American boy, he loved her and she didn't love him" line that seems to run through many TPRS books in any language, maybe because authors think it's relatable to most teenagers (hint: less than you'd think, one, and two, we have a responsibility to do better and at least not always use the SAME gendered stereotypes. I know characters are cartoony in many TPRS books by necessity given the language level, but it still annoys me.

Thus, I was prepared to not like this one too. But the combo of Alice and Wonderland with The Three Little Pigs was hilarious! "Huffabo et puffabo" was gold...

As that makes clear, the Latin is not golden Latinitas, the word order is often English, etc, but in this case the humor made me not mind.

[Kristen Fort · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me about 20 minutes to read. This story is very comprehensible for those students enrolled in Latin I; it may be on the easy side for those enrolled in Latin II. The sentences are simple and there is quite a bit of repetition. What's unique about the story is that it incorporates a little Alice in Wonderland, a little Three Little Pigs, and a little Romeo & Juliet. It starts out with an ordinary high school kid who is studying Romeo & Juliet in English class. I didn't expect the opening chapter to kind of reflect my life, but it does. "depone telephonum"

[Austin Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabula grata parva est. Pauca vocabula legendum facile faciunt.

[Tim R · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great short novella in Latin for a beginning student.