Harry Mount and John Davie unlock the wisdom of the past in this light-hearted and fascinating book, revealing how ancient Latin can help us to live better in the present.
Harry Mount and John Davie unlock the wisdom of the past, revealing how ancient Latin can help us to live better in the present.
Hardcover
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Summary
Harry Mount and John Davie unlock the wisdom of the past in this light-hearted and fascinating book, revealing how ancient Latin can help us to live better in the present.
Harry Mount and John Davie unlock the wisdom of the past, revealing how ancient Latin can help us to live better in the present.
Description
There are so many Latin phrases in everyday use that often we use them without understanding the background and context within which they were actually used. 'Carpe diem'; 'Stet'; 'Memento mori'; 'Et tu Brute' – examples would fill a book. And often these phrases are also used in English translation: 'The dye is cast'; 'crossing the Rubicon'; 'Rome was not built in a day'.
Many of these phrases are humorous, but they are also a rich source of wisdom: the wisdom of the ancients. The chapters of this book include: Life’s Misfortunes and how to deal with them; How to deal with old age (Cicero); Why Death is nothing to fear (Lucretius); The Stoic guide to life. Each chapter starts with a quotation and is lightly sprinkled with many more, with accompanying English translations.
The background to each quotation is explained so that the context is fully understood. Who crossed the Rubicon and why, for example? At a time of great political and social turbulence, more and more people are turning back to ancient wisdom as a guide to life. Here they are in touch with two classical scholars of distinction who have the common touch.
Critic Reviews
“" Both entertaining and informative, this is not to be missed. " -- This England”
Both entertaining and informative, this is not to be missed. This England
There’s much pleasure to be had in Et Tu, Brute?...which carries a lot of learning very lightly. The Tablet
…filled with memorable and fun facts. The Times Literary Supplement
…highly readable… the perfect approach… presented with verve and wit. The Wall Street Journal
About the Author
After obtaining a first class degree in Latin and Greek at Oxford University, Harry Mount embarked on life as a journalist. A frequent contributor to The Spectator, Daily Telegraph and The Times, he is now the editor of The Oldie.
John Davie was for many years head of Classics at St Paul’s School in London. He then moved to Trinity College, Oxford where he became tutor in Classics.
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