弗雷德裏剋•M•韋洛剋（Frederic M. Wheelock，1902—1987）是美國著名的古典學傢，拉丁語教學權威。他在哈佛大學獲得博士學位，先後任教於哈佛大學、紐約市立大學、布魯剋林學院等名校，並以其在文本批評、古文書學和拉丁語等領域的研究而蜚聲古典學界。韋洛剋教授是美國古典學聯盟、美國語言學會和大西洋國傢古典學會的成員。本書是他畢生最具代錶性的傑作。

理查德•A•拉弗勒（Richard A. LaFleur）是美國古典學聯盟主席（1984—1986）。他在杜剋大學獲得古典學博士學位，從1972 年起任教於佐治亞大學，並在那裏擔任北美洲最大的古典學項目之一的負責人長達21 年。拉弗勒教授著有《21 世紀拉丁語：從概念到課堂》等多部著作，並於1984 年獲得美國語言學會“古典學傑齣教育奬”。

For nearly sixty years, Wheelock's Latin has remained the opitmus liber of beginning Latin textbooks. When Professor Frederic M. Wheelock's Latin first appeared in 1956, the reviews extolled its thoroughness, organization, and conciseness; one reviewer predicted that the book "might well become the standard text" for introducing students to elementary Latin. Now, nearly six decades later, that prediction has certainly proved accurate. This new edition of Wheelock's Latin has all of the features, many of them improved and expanded, that have made it the bestselling single-volume beginning Latin textbook: 40 chapters with grammatical explanations and readings drawn from the works of Rome's major prose and verse writers;Self-tutorial exercises, each with an answer key, for independent study;An extensive English-Latin/Latin-English vocabulary section;A rich selection of original Latin readings--unlike other Latin textbooks, which contain primarily made-up texts;Etymological aids, maps, and dozens of images illustrating aspects of the classical culture and mythology presented in the chapter readings. Also included are expanded notes on the literary passages, comments on vocabulary, and translation tips; new comprehension and discussion questions; and new authentic classical Latin readings, including Roman graffiti, in every chapter.