Henry John Roby (1830–1915) was a Cambridge-educated classicist whose influential career included periods as a schoolmaster, professor of Roman law, businessman, educational reformer and Member of Parliament. Elementary Latin Grammar (1862) is a complete, concise introduction to the Latin language. Written for classroom use, it presents essential grammatical constructions in the clearest possible manner, using ample material from the classical authors as demonstrations of basic principles. The book guides the reader through noun and adjective declensions and the full array of verb conjugations before turning to prosody and syntax, where Roby's innovations in Latin instruction are most evident. Simple, direct, and based upon examples including texts by Livy and Cicero, the book shows students how to parse basic sentences while also introducing them to more subtle and complex constructions. It remains a useful resource for teachers of Latin, and a fascinating document in the history of
Henry John Roby (1830–1915) was a Cambridge-educated classicist whose influential career included periods as a schoolmaster, professor of Roman law, businessman, educational reformer and Member of Parliament. His two-volume Grammar of the Latin Language, first published in the 1870s, reveals his innovative, descriptive approach to grammar, which situates thorough analysis of the Latin language within the historical context of the writings themselves, or, as Roby puts it, setting 'example above precept' in order to put grammar 'in the proper light, as an account of what men do say, not a theory of what they should say'. The book provides numerous examples from classical Latin writings dating from circa 200 BCE. to 120 CE to illustrate points in phonology, morphology and syntax. A work of remarkable breadth and depth, Roby's book remains an essential resource for both historical linguistics and the study of Latin grammar.
Henry John Roby (1830–1915) was a Cambridge-educated classicist whose influential career included periods as a schoolmaster, professor of Roman law, businessman, educational reformer and Member of Parliament. His two-volume Grammar of the Latin Language went through seven editions during his lifetime. It provides in-depth analysis of Latin phonetics, noun and verb construction, and syntax and morphology, taking a descriptive approach. Drawing examples from the corpus of classical writings dating from circa 200 BCE. to 120 CE, this first volume (1872) discusses sounds and syllable quantities, noun and verb inflexions, and the basic elements of word formation, organized according to noun and verb stems. Appendices include pronoun tables, lists of weights and measures, and a chronological compilation of inscriptions from the republican era. A work of remarkable breadth and depth, Roby's book remains an essential resource for both historical linguistics and the study of Latin grammar.
Henry John Roby (1830–1915) was a Cambridge-educated classicist whose influential career included periods as a schoolmaster, professor of Roman law, businessman, educational reformer and Member of Parliament. His two-volume Grammar of the Latin Language reveals his innovative, descriptive approach to grammar, which situates thorough analysis of the Latin language within the historical context of the writings themselves, or, as Roby puts it, setting 'example above precept' in order to put grammar 'in the proper light, as an account of what men do say, not a theory of what they should say'. Drawing examples from the corpus of classical writings dating from circa 200 BCE. to 120 CE; this second volume (1875) is devoted to syntax, including a complete analysis of cases, tense, and mood. A work of remarkable breadth and depth, Roby's book remains an essential resource for both historical linguistics and the study of Latin grammar.
Henry John Roby (1830–1915) was a Cambridge-educated classicist whose influential career included periods as a schoolmaster, a Professor of Roman law at University College, London, an educational reformer and a Member of Parliament. First published in 1884, this volume provides an analysis and discussion of Justinian's Digesta, a compendium of second and third century Roman legal writings which forms part of the body of Roman civil law issued under Justinian I in 533 AD. It is considered a fundamental work of Roman jurisprudence. Roby discusses the historical context of the Digesta, compares extracts in other legal sources with the original text and provides the Latin text of De Usufructu (one of the titles from the Digesta) with detailed close textual discussion and analysis. This volume was the first published guide to studying the Digesta and is considered one of Roby's most important contributions to jurisprudence.
