AN ECLECTIC LIBRARY.

Charles Anthon

Language texts—Latin. | Language texts—Greek. | Classical studies. | Classical literature.


Caricature of Charles Anthon

The first American classicist to develop an international reputation, Charles Anthon had much to do with the high standards of learning in nineteenth-century American universities. Much of Anthon’s work was devoted to bringing the best products of English and German scholarship to America in editions that he improved and expanded. His textbooks on the ancient languages were widely admired, and the proof of their utility may be found in the fact that many professors resented them for making the students’ work too easy. “The editor…has been charged with overloading the authors, whom he has from time to time edited, with cumbersome commentaries; he has been accused of making the path of classical learning too easy for the student, and of imparting light where the individual should have been allowed to kindle his own torch and to find his own way.” (Preface to Anthon’s edition of Horace.)

Dr. Anthon is also famous in Mormon lore as the Columbia professor who was shown a transcribed “Egyptian” inscription from the Golden Plates and pronounced it a hoax, which has been interpreted in Mormon history as “authenticating” it.

The authentic portrait above was drawn from life by a student in the end papers of one of Anthon’s textbooks.


Language Texts.


Latin.

First Latin Lessons, containing the most important parts of the grammar of the Latin language, together with appropriate exercises in the translating and writing of Latin, for the use of beginners. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1839.

A Grammar of the Latin Language. By C. G. Zumpt, Ph.D. From the ninth edition of the original, adapted to the use of English students. By Leonard Schmitz, Ph.D. Corrected and enlarged, by Charles Anthon, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1846.

Anthon’s Latin Grammar—Part II. An Introduction to Latin Prose Composition, with a complete course of exercises, illustrative of all the important principles of Latin syntax. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1842.
1846 printing, probably identical.
1853 printing, probably identical.

Key to Anthon’s Latin Prose Composition. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1849.

Elements of Latin Prosody and Metre, compiled from the best authorities; together with a synopsis of poetic licenses occurring in the versification of Virgil, a metrical index to the lyric compositions of Horace, and the scanning of the mixed trimeter and dimeter iambics of the latter poet. By Charles Anthon. New-York: J. and J. Swords, 1824.

A System of Latin Prosody and Metre, from the best authorities, ancient and modern. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1842.
1856 printing, probably identical.

A System of Latin Versification, in a series of progressive exercises, including specimens of translation from English and German poetry into Latin verse, for the use of schools and colleges. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1850.

Key to Anthon’s Latin Versification. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1845.

A New Abridgment of Ainsworth’s Dictionary. English and Latin. For the use of grammar schools. By John Dymock, LL.D. New American edition, with corrections and improvements, by Charles Anthon. Philadelphia: Uriah Hunt & Son; Cincinnati: Applegate & Co., [1830]. —The date in the copyright notice is blotted by sloppy printing, but the librarian gives the date as 1830. The printing is poor throughout, and because the scan is excellent we can see exactly how poor the printing is. No wonder Anthon stuck with Harper & Brothers forever once he switched to them.

A Copious and Critical English-Latin Lexicon, founded on the German-Latin Dictionary of Dr. Charles Ernest Georges. By the Rev. Joseph Edmond Riddle, M.A., and the Rev. Thomas Kerchever Arnold, M.A. First American edition, carefully revised, and containing a copious dictionary of proper names from the best sources, by Charles Anthon, LL.S. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1864.


Greek.

The Elements of Greek Grammar. By R. Valpy, D.D., F.A.S. With additions by C. Anthon. Twelfth edition. New-York: W. E. Dean, 1847.
Fourth edition, 1830.

A Grammar of the Greek Language, for the use of schools and colleges. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1838.
1856 edition.

“Omitting nothing that is contained in the most voluminous and cumbrous works of the German school, it is so clear in its arrangements, so perfectly simple and comprehensible in its explanations, that we have no hesitation in saying, that, by the use of this little volume, almost as much might be acquired of the Greek tongue, without the aid of oral exposition, as from any other work in circulation, assisted by an able and experienced tutor. On its peculiar excellences, our limits prohibit us from enlarging to the extent we could desire; but in a few words, we can touch upon its most marked points of superiority, which we conceive to be first, the great simplification and plainness of its rules, whether for verbal formations, or for syntactical arrangement—secondly, the full and extended manner in which the declensions and conjugations are carried out, leaving nothing to be guessed at, or misapprehended—and lastly, though not leastly, the cutting down of those redundant and embarrassing superfluities with which all previous books of this nature abound.—It is emphatically an excellent school book! Indeed, we do not see how it could be improved; and anxious as we are to see a high degree of education and general literary habits diffused through the vast territories of our country, we trust that—as one of the most probable steps toward this result—this work may be universally adopted in every school and college of America.” ——The New-York Review, October, 1838.

A Grammar of the Greek Language, principally from the German of Kühner, with selections from Matthiæ, Buttmann, Thiersch, and Rost. For the use of schools and colleges. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1844

“The very favorable reception extended to the author’s previous grammar of the Greek language, and the urgent solicitations of many valued friends, have induced him to present the same work in a more enlarged and complete form. His object has been to furnish the student with a general view of the leading features of Greek philology, and to place in his hands a volume that may prove a useful auxiliary to him throughout the whole of his academic and collegiate career. In order to effect this more thoroughly, recourse has been had to the writings of the latest and best of the German grammarians, and especially to those of Kühner, which are now justly regarded as the ablest of their kind.” [The previous smaller grammar continued in print, however; see above.]

First Greek Lessons, containing the most important parts of the Greek language, together with appropriate exercises in the translating and writing of Greek, for the use of beginners. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1839.
Anthon’s Greek Lessons—Part I. —Fifth edition (preface dated 1842; 1846 printing) of the First Greek Lessons, now explicitly linked to the Introduction to Greek Prose Composition below.

Anthon’s Greek Lessons—Part II. An Introduction to Greek Prose Composition, with copious explanatory exercises, in which all the important principles of Greek syntax are fully elucidated. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1858.

Exercises on the Syntax of the Greek Language. By the Rev. William Neilson, D.D. A new edition, corrected and enlarged. To which are subjoined, Exercises in metaphrasis, paraphrasis, dialects, and prosody. Together with an historical sketch of the dialects; the doctrine of the middle voice, with explanatory examples; a statement of opinions respecting the Greek accents; and two appendices, illustrative of the leading principles of the Greek syntax, by Charles Anthon. New-York: Swords, Stanford, and Co., 1834.

A System of Greek Prosody and Metre, for the use of schools and colleges; together with the choral scanning of the Prometheus Vinctus of Æschylus, and the Ajax and Œdipus Tyrannus of Sophocles. To which are appended remarks on Indo-Germanic analogies. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1839.
1838 printing, apparently identical.
Revised and Corrected by the Rev. J. R. Major, D.D. London: Thomas Tegg, 1845. —Another example of Anthon’s transatlantic reputation.


Classical Studies.

A Classical Dictionary, containing an account of the principal proper names mentioned in ancient authors and intended to elucidate all the important points connected with geography, history, biography, mythology, and fine arts of the Greeks and Romans. Together with an account of coins, weights, and measures, with tabular values of the same. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1852. —All these various dates seem to be different printings of the fourth edition.
Another copy, missing title page.
1857 edition.
1848 edition.

A New Classical Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, Mythology and Geography, partly based upon the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology by William Smith, LL.D. Revised, with numerous corrections and additions, by Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1862.

“The present work is the revised edition of the English one, and will be found, the editor believes, greatly improved, as well as much more complete. It is not, however designed to, and, in the editor’s opinion, will not supersede his own ‘Classical Dictionary’ published in 1841, since the articles are purposely brief, and results only are stated, without that fullness of detail which is desirable to the more advanced scholar and the educated man of leisure; but it is intended for the use of those whose means will not allow a more expensive, or their scanty time the use of a more copious work; in other words, it is meant to take the place, by reason of its convenient size and low price, of Lempriere’s old dictionary, which, with all its absurd errors and defects, still has a lingering existence in certain parts of our country on account of its cheapness.”

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. Edited by William Smith, Ph.D. and illustrated by numerous engravings on wood. Third American edition, carefully revised and containing numerous additional articles relative to the botany, mineralogy, and zoology of the ancients, by Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1882.
The same, 1878 printing.

A Manual of Grecian Antiquities. With numerous illustrations. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1852.

A Manual of Roman Antiquities. With numerous illustrations. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1851.

A Manual of Greek Literature, from the earliest authentic periods to the close of the Byzantine era. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1853.
Another copy.
Another copy.

A System of Ancient and Mediæval Geography, for the use of schools and colleges. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1850.
Another copy.


Classical Literature.

☛Anthon’s editions of classical writers were known (and sometimes resented) for their extensive notes in English designed to make the texts accessible to students.

The Greek Reader, by Frederic Jacobs. A new edition, with English notes, critical and explanatory, a metrical index to Homer and Anacreon, and a copious lexicon. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1840.

Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic War; and the first book of the Greek paraphrase; with English notes, critical and explanatory, plans of battles, sieges, etc., and historical, geographical, and archæological indices. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1838.
1850 printing, probably identical.

Cato Major, Laelius, Paradoxa, and Somnium Scipionis of Cicero, and the Life of Atticus by Cornelius Nepos, with English notes, critical and explanatory, by Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1854.

M. Tullii Ciceronis Orationes Selectae. Ex recenione Jo. Aug. Ernesti. With an English commentary; and historical, geographical, and legal indexes. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. Second edition. London: John R. Priestley, 1839.
Select Orations of Cicero. With English notes, critical and explanatory, and historical, geographical, and legal indexes. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. A new edition, with improvements. New York: Harper & Brothers, [1848].
1849 printing, probably identical.

Cicero’s Tusculan Disputations. With English notes, critical and explanatory, by Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1852.

The First Three Books of Homer’s Iliad, according to the ordinary text, and also with the restoration of the digamma, to which are appended English notes, critical and explanatory, a metrical index, and Homeric glossary. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1844.

The First Six Books of Homer’s Iliad. With English notes, critical and explanatory, a metrical index, and Homeric glossary. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1860.
1869 printing, probably identical.

Cornelius Nepos, with notes, historical and explanatory. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1852.
1858 printing, probably identical.

An English Commentary on the Rhesus, Medea, Hippolytus, Alcestis, Heraclidae, Supplices, and Troades of Euripides, with the scanning of each play, from the latest and best authorities. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1877.

The Works of Horace, with English notes, critical and explanatory, by Charles Anthon, LL.D. A new edition, with corrections and improvements. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1839.
A new edition, corrected and enlarged, with excursions relative to the wines and vineyards of the ancients; and a life of Horace by Milman. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1849.
1854 printing, probably identical.
1855 printing, probably identical.
1871 printing, probably identical.
1872 printing, probably identical.

Q. Horatii Flacci Poëmata. Animadversionibus illustravit Carolus Anthon, LL.D. Editio quinta. Accedunt notulae quaedam, cura Joacobi Boyd, LL.D. Londini: Apud T. Tegg, 1841.
Editio nova, 1846.

The Satires of Juvenal and Persius. With English notes, critical and explanatory, from the best commentators. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1857.

C. Crispi Sallustii Opera, omissis fragmentis, omnia; ad optimorum exemplarium fidem recensita. Aminadversionibus illustravit P. Wilson, LL.D. Editio quarta. Recensuit notasque suas adspersit Carolus Anthon. Novi Eboraci, Impensis G. et C. Carvill, in Via Lata, 1825. —Extensive notes in English aimed at intermediate Latin readers.

C. Crispi Sallustii de Catilinae conjuratione belloque Jugurthino Historiae. Animadversionibus illustravit Carolus Anthon. Editio quarta, prioribus longe emdatior. Boston: Hilliard, Gray and Co.; New York: G. and C. and H. Carvill; London: Richard James Kennett, 1833.
Editio septima. Accedunt notulae quaedam et quaestiones, cura Jacobi Boyd, LL.D. London: Thomas Tegg & Son, 1839.
Sallust’s Jugurthine War and Conspiracy of Catiline. With an English commentary, and geographical and historical indexes. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. Tenth edition, corrected and enlarged. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1864.

The Germania and Agricola of Tacitus, with English notes, critical and explanatory, from the best and latest authorities; the remarks of Botticher on the style of Tacitus; and a copious geographical index. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1847.
1850 printing, probably identical.

The Germania and Agricola, and also Selections from the Annals, of Tacitus. With English notes, critical and explanatory. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1853.
1873 edition

The Æneïd of Virgil. With English notes, critical and explanatory, a metrical clavis, and an historical, geographical and mythological index, by Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1881.
1856 edition, probably identical.
Adapted for use in English schools, by the Rev. F. Metcalfe, M.A. New edition. London: Whittaker and Co., 1856.

The Eclogues and Georgics of Virgil. With English notes, critical and explanatory, and a metrical index. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1846.

The Anabasis of Xenophon, with English notes, critical and explanatory, a map arranged according to the latest and best authorities, and a plan of the battle of Cunaxa. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1847.
Another copy.
1848 printing, probably identical.
1876 printing, probably identical.

Xenophon’s Memorabilia of Socrates, with English notes, critical and explanatory, the Prolegomena of Kuhner, Wiggers’ Life of Socrates, etc. By Charles Anthon, LL.D. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1848.

“The great merit of the present text, however, consists in its being an expurgated one. Every passage has either been rejected or essentially modified that in any way conflicted with our better and purer ideas of propriety and decorum, for even in the ethical treatises of the Greeks expressions and allusions will sometimes occur which it is our happier privilege to have been taught unsparingly to condemn.”