Books and other interests

[Georgina]

Hi from a temperature destined to be a low of -33 C today and it is snowing again--winter has been extra nasty this year and does not want to quit.! Anyone living in this climate is definitely a masochist!!!
Apologies! Back to the thread about books!!!!!!
A rather strange coincidence occurred after I had settled in to a new classroom in Mufulira High School in Zambia in 1965.When I unlocked the cupboard used for books in the classroom was a solitary copy of Mr Reeves Latin text, which I believe he must have published some time earlier in the 60s. I cannot remember the title but it was narrow, bright red and had a black engraving of a skeleton on the front cover. It seemed indeed a strange find!!! Does anyone remember it or know how to obtain a copy-- though it is probably out of print. I did not do well in Latin and dropped it in second form--stupid of me since I was unable to enter Manchester University without Latin pass although conditionally accepted in honours history--again a stupid thing to do since I could not switch to regular at the last moment and ended up dashing off to a college instead of just retaking Latin, which I studied in upper and lower sixth and just failed it in GCEs. How different a course my life might have taken and I might have been still in England instead of freezing at present in Canada!!!! It has often occurred to me that I was--am--too stubborn for my own good!!!
Cheers, Gina ( heading for log fire and glass of wine--again!
Below a picture of Mufulira High and the classroom I mention taken in 2010

[Ken]

Hi Gina -

That's an interesting story about Mr. Reeves' book.
I remember one "winding-down-for-Christmas" Latin lesson, probably either 1955 or 1956, when instead of a "proper" lesson, he read to us some Latin ghost stories from his collection. In fact, they were probably ghoul-ish rather than ghost-ish.... the sort of blood and gore that young lads like! I suspect that he was reading from the manuscript of his book, prior to its publication.
I recall that he read slowly, pausing slightly here and there, until somebody had the courage to ask, "Are you translating these as you read?"
"Oh yes", he said, "the text here is in Latin".

About 1974, I overheard a conversation on the adjacent table in the staff canteen, where somebody was telling the rest of that table about what a superb Latin teacher he had had at (I think) Bury Grammar, and how that teacher had published a book of Latin ghost stories. I leaned over, and asked if the teacher had been called Reeves - and it was, of course!

Sorry, I can't help you to get hold of a copy, but others might remember more about the subject (both the book and the Latin!)

[Keith Sudds]

Georgina,
The book written by R. C. Reeves was called "Horrenda", comprising of 159 pages with drawings and was published by Centaur Booksin 1958. It was cloth bound and cost the princely sum of 8/6.

If you go to http://journals.cambridge.org they may be able to tell you where you could obtain one, or some of their stock may be purchased on line.

Keith

[eddief]

Georgina
Try the second entry on http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Searc ... n=horrenda
Sounds like the kind of thing to read in front of a log fire with a glass (or two) of wine.
Eddie

[Ken]

By gum - thanks lads

(N.B. Hold Ctrl down while clicking on Eddie's link - that way you get to see all the page)

Now that we know the Title, it gets easier.

Try Google, using the search term....

horrenda Reeves

[Georgina]

Hi all you helpful people!

I managed to find all the information about Horrenda
A signed copy is £ 40.00 about $80

Bookseller Image
Horrenda. A Latin Reader SIGNED COPY
Reeves, R.C. ( Robert Reeves )
Bookseller: Hale Books (Altrincham, ., United Kingdom)
Bookseller Rating: 5-star rating
Quantity Available: 1

Book Description: Centaur Books Limited, Slough, Bucks., 1958. Cloth. Book Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: No d/w. Shirley, J.A. (illustrator). First Edition. Hardback, 140mm x 220mm tall (5.5" x 8.75" approx.). 159pp with a b/w photo frontispiece plate from a mosaic at Pompei "Rogatus adest calidae gelidaesque minister" [image repeated as a decoration to the front cover] a 16 further illustrations, 15 of which are from drawings by J.A. Shirley. Shelf rubs to head & tail of spine and board corners, otherwise very good, in the original illustrated red cloth-covered boards/black titles. SIGNED on the front free endpaper "With compliments - Robert Reeves". Uncommon. Inscribed by the Author. Bookseller Inventory # 003649