Intro
Welcome to another issue of the monthly Grammaticus newsletter! This time I have a brand new e-book for you - complete with vocabulary notes and exercises for English language learners. There's also a selection of posts on the topic of autumn, and I've thrown in the links to some of my older posts on mythology and the history of religion. I hope you find them interesting!
Have a wonderful beginning of the autumn season!
Books & Literature
Free e-book: “My Herbarium” by Anne Wales Abbot
I’m happy to present the twelfth title in my series of e-books designed for English language learners (and everyone who enjoys a good short story). This one contains a non-fiction story “My Herbarium" by Anne Wales Abbot (1808-1908), originally published in her collection of prose and poetry works entitled “Autumn Leaves.”
Book review: “Calling the Spirits: A History of Seances”
Man’s belief in survival of life after death is one of the oldest expressions of religiosity, firmly embedded in the very foundations of organised religion. Lisa Morton's book delves into one of its more curious strands.
Culture & Media
TV review: Curon
The plot revolves around a mother, Anna, who returns to her mysterious hometown of Curon with her teenage twins, Daria and Mauro, after 17 years of absence. As soon as they arrive, strange and unsettling events begin to unfold, deeply connected to the town’s troubled past.
Meet the Slavic god Veles
Veles counts among the most prominent deities of the Slavic pantheon. He’s one of the so-called horned gods of Europe; like them, he is typically depicted as a mature man, bearded, usually in the company of forest animals.
Learning English
“September” by Lucy Maud Montgomery
The following short sonnet, written by the famous Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874–1942), is about the transitory nature of autumn. It's very short - and bittersweet. Don't forget to do the vocabulary exercises included in the post!
English grammar: Present Simple vs Present Continuous
In this post we’ll look into the basic differences between two English tenses that students often confuse: Present Simple and Present Continuous (also known as Present Progressive).
Listening tips
NPR's 'Fresh Air' went behind the scenes with Robert Redford
The legendary actor died earlier this month at 89. "I wasn't learning the way I was supposed to learn ..." he explained in 2013. "I realized that my education was going to happen when I got out in the world."
Autumn listening tips
In this post I’d like to draw your attention to several podcast episodes that I’ve recently enjoyed listening to, all on the topic of autumn.
Promo
Private lessons
Looking for an English, Latin or Classical Greek tutor? Look no further! I'm an accredited teacher with 20+ years of experience, and would love to work with you! Check out the Classes page on the Grammaticus website and don't hesitate to contact me for more information!