Peter Jones, co-founder of the Friends of Classics, is one of the best-known figures in the teaching and appreciation of the Classics, a regular contributor to national newspapers and the author of many books and articles, including, in the same series, Learn Latin.

Based on the same principles as Learn Latin, Peter Jones’s bestselling book of the hugely popular Daily Telegraph series, this book teaches you enough Greek in 20 chapters to be able to read some real ancient Greek – one of the world’s greatest languages, used by one of the world’s greatest cultures. By the end of the course you will be able to read passages from the New Testament and from Classical Greek literature, including extracts from Socrates’ speech on trial for his life recorded by Plato, Sophocles’ Antigone, and the tragic end to the Athenian expedition to Sicily described by the historian Thucydides – and much else.

Each chapter also comes with sections on ancient Greek history and culture, and on the influence of the ancient language on our own, enabling you to experience at first hand just why it is that the ancient Greeks have played such a central part in the culture, language and history of western civilisation.

Based on the same principles that lay behind the book "Learn Latin", this book provides the chance to read real ancient Greek. It teaches the reader enough Greek in 20 chapters to be able to read selected passages from the New Testament and from Classical Greek literature.

Preface
Introduction
The Greek alphabet (1)
The Greek alphabet (2)
1. 'To be', pronouns and particles
2. Regular verbs and the definite article
3. Contractions and participles
4. More contractions and accusatives
5. Middle verbs and prepositions
6. More participles; introducing gender
7. From here to infinitive
8. Getting in the moods: the subjunctive
9. Neuters and the past tense
10. Aorist middle and the dative case
11. Taking a breather
12. The imperfect 11712. The imperfect
13. Personalising the Word
14. Passive reflections
15. Sacred and secular love
16. Last tense moments
17. More ofthe aorist
18. Yet more of the aorist
19. From death to life
20. Eternal truths
End-Piece
Homer's Odyssey 13.79-92