Ad Infinitum: A Biography of Latin - Hardcover

Ostler, Nicholas

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 080271515X ISBN 13: 9780802715159

Publisher: Walker & Co, 2007

Synopsis

A critical study of the Latin language examines its role in the evolution of Western culture and civilization; its relationship with ancient Greek language, science, and philosophy; its place in the Catholic Church; and its function as an ancestor of Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Romanian, and other modern-day languages.

About this title

Review:

‘An unstuffy guide that does not rquire Latin for full enjoyment. It is enlivened not only by the author's fascination with etymologies but also by his comparative approach.’ Financial Times

‘Fascinating...lightly worn but hugely impressive scholarship...wonderfully learned and entertaining.’ New Statesman

"a survey whose verve and intelligence are as exhilarating as its historical sweep" Guardian

Praise for ‘Empires of the Word’:

‘It is a compelling read, one of the most interesting books I have read in a long while...a great book. After reading it you will never think of language in the same way again.’ Guardian

‘Learned and entertaining...remarkably comprehensive as well as thought-provoking.’ Observer

'Ostler is particularly good on this linguistic fragility...This richly various book offers new insights and information for almost everyone interested in the past.' Sunday Telegraph

‘A serious work of scholarship, but one that can be read from cover to cover by the amateur enthusiast...the breadth of this analysis is breathtaking...it does its job admirably.’ Spectator

'Ambitious and well-researched.' New Statesman

About the Author:

Nicholas Ostler is the author of Empires of the World: A Language History of the World. He is chairman of the Foundation for Endangered Languages (www.ogmios.org), a charity that supports the efforts of small communities worldwide to know and use their languages more. A scholar with a working knowledge of twenty-six languages, Ostler has degrees from Oxford University in Greek, Latin, philosophy, and economics, and a Ph.D. in linguistics from M.I.T., where he studied under Noam Chomsky. He lives in England, in Roman Bath, on the hill where Ambrosius Aurelianus defeated the Saxons for a generation.

About this edition

• Publisher: Walker & Co
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 080271515X
• ISBN 13: 9780802715159
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 382