Latin Story for Wheelock's CH 1 & 2 (Livia Sacerdos: A Latin Novella)

Follow the story of Livia, a teenage girl growing up in pre-Roman Latium. She's a priestess to the local goddesses and through her seer's ability, soon learns that her life in Latium is about to be forever changed by the arrival of a stranger from a foreign land. Livia never bargained for such foresight, but as she comes to accept the role Fate has allotted for her, her story will be interwoven in a web of mythic heroes.

curricular compatibility

Wheelock

Livia Sacerdos is written to be compatible with vocabulary & grammar from Wheelock's Latin, 6th ed. Words beyond the vocabulary lists/grammar of the current chapter are rarely introduced but if they are, they are bolded so you can gloss them for your students.

AP Latin

These stories are also written to prepare students for the themes and plot line of Vergil's Aeneid, which many students read in level 4 and/or AP courses. Livia turns out to be (plot twist!) the nickname for Lavinia, and the chapters alternate perspectives to include stories of Latinus and Amata, Daunus and Turnus, Aeneas, Dido, Creusa and Ascanius, etc. Over time, the overlap will become clear to students as the stories coalesce.

a note about format/why I wrote this

You will have access to the story in plain text form in a Google doc. You can format it/gloss new vocabulary for your students however works for you.

I've loved teaching with Wheelock but always wanted a continuous narrative text for my students to read, so I decided to write one. I'm on Chapter 17 at the moment and usually complete a new draft every 2-3 weeks. This novella is very much a work in progress, and I will add updated versions to each Google doc as I circle back to each chapter.

an ask

I've made CH 1 and 2 free, but I ask that you don't share later chapters with other teachers. These stories are a labor of love for my students and I've put tons of time, effort and creative energy into writing them. Also, I am a full-time Latin & History teacher living in one of the most unaffordable areas of the U.S. and every bit of additional income helps!