I might as well start by saying that this book is by no means an introduction to Latin. Sidwell himself starts out by saying that, by and large, Medieval Latin is just Latin. It's best to start with a solid background in classical Latin (Wheelock's) and then move to this book when you want to start reading Medieval authors.

As another review noted, Sidwell gives good backgrounds on the changes that occurred in medieval Latin - again, medieval Latin is not some other language, it's simply Latin with some changes in orthography, grammar, and usage. In fact, without a solid background in classical Latin, this book would be almost worthless (except for its dictionary in the back - and even there, most words are defined in terms of their classical Latin equivalents).

Best of all is the appendix with the changes between classical and medieval Latin categorized. I refer to this appendix often when I come to an odd construct in the Vulgate, and it very often answers my questions.

I unfortunately have limited experience with the texts in the book themselves. What little I've looked through seem good, and the introductions are useful; but I've heard several negative comments about some of Sidwell's text choices (one person whom I respect said his choice of texts was "ghoulish".)

But, from my own personal experience, it's a good book as long as you don't try to use it for more than it's designed to do.

Do yourself or your students a favor and FORGET SIDWELL.
This cancer on the body of Latin education has impaired and imperiled students for too long. Choose Wheelock, choose Scanlon, choose to sit down and memorize Lewis and Short, but please, please, don't keep buying this putrid and detestable mockery of a language course. If you need evidence of this man's utter madness, look to the notes in this volume, or to the glossary: of what possible assistance are notes that tell the student what she is already certain to know while remaining silent when she most needs guidance? Sidwell: the sun has set on your empire of tears; you have had your day.

Sidwell's anthology provides the Latin student with thorough notes, historical background to the authors, and medieval shifts in pronunciation and spelling. Occasionally Sidwell misses possible interpretations of passages or provides word-meanings that don't necessarily work well in a passage's context. These shorfalls, however, are hardly significant. Sidwell's book is an enjoyable and worthwhile text.