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Et tu, Brute?

The Best Latin Lines Ever

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Et tu, Brute?

By: Harry Mount, John Davie
Narrated by: John Telfer
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Bloomsbury presents Et tu, Brute? by Harry Mount and John Davie, read by John Telfer.

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.

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 die 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: Latin for Gardeners, the Great Latin Love Poets, Cicero on How to Grow Old Gracefully and Seneca's 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 and can help make Latin accessible to all, not to mention fun!©2022 John Davie (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Ancient Language Learning Linguistics Rome Social Sciences Witty Stoicism Comedy
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Critic reviews

Everything is written in a cheery, occasionally cheesy, style that enables the casual reader to lap up a chapter or two before bedtime.
Both entertaining and informative, this is not to be missed.
There’s much pleasure to be had in Et Tu, Brute?...which carries a lot of learning very lightly.
…filled with memorable and fun facts.
…highly readable… the perfect approach… presented with verve and wit.
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