Thursday, April 5, 2012

Book Review: Winnie Ille Pu

A Book You Can Buy From Me

Book Title: Winnie Ille Pu

Translator: Alexander Lenard

Original English: Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

Publisher: E.P. Dutton

Date: 1960

Length: 121 pages

Amazon ID number: B000YHYZNW

Illustrations: drawings by E.H. Shepard

Quote: "Burr, burr, burr / Quid est causae cur?"

That's Latin for "Buzz, buzz, buzz! / I wonder why he does?" and that's what this book is--a literal, almost verbatim translation of Winnie the Pooh into Latin--Hums and all.

If you read Latin with ease, I'm assured by people who do, this book is one long laugh. Something about the way Milne's nursery-style English sounds in the language of courtrooms and cathedrals.

If you don't read Latin with ease, yet, but are learning some words, a book like this one is a painless way to drill the words into your memory.

What I have is the ninth printing of the original hardcover book, and its market value has approximately doubled (when new it cost $3.50). If you want a hardcover copy from the 1960s, send $10 for the book plus $5 for shipping to salolianigodagewi@yahoo.com. If a recent paperback reprint will do, send $5 for the book plus $5 for shipping. And if you're in Gate City, Virginia, you may still be able to get my copy--margins and dust jacket foxed, back dust jacket torn about one inch up--for something close to the original price, on behalf of a legitimate local charity.

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