author
Frances E. (Frances Ellen) Lord
b. 1835
A longtime classics teacher at Vassar and Wellesley, she wrote practical books that made Latin sound and rhythm feel more alive for students. Her best-known work explains why the restored Roman pronunciation of Latin mattered and how to use it in the classroom.
1 Audiobook
The Roman Pronunciation of Latin: Why We Use It and How to Use It
by Frances E. (Frances Ellen) Lord
About the author
Born in 1835, Frances Ellen Lord was an American teacher and writer best known for her work in classical studies. Records linked to her name identify her as a professor of Latin at Vassar College from 1867 to 1876 and of Greek there from 1872 to 1876.
She later taught Latin at Wellesley College from 1876 to 1897. Her writing reflects the concerns of a dedicated classroom scholar: The Roman Pronunciation of Latin argued for using reconstructed classical pronunciation, while Rivi Tiburtini set metres of Horace to music to help students hear and remember Latin verse.
Although she is not widely known today outside specialist circles, her books show a clear, practical approach to teaching ancient languages. They offer a glimpse of how nineteenth-century educators tried to make Latin not just grammatical, but spoken, heard, and felt.