Latin Love Lessons: Put a Little Ovid in Your Life

by Charlotte Higgins

Book Overview

It wasn't just heated floors, hot baths, aqueducts, and paved roads that the Romans did first and best--they were also experts at the art of love. From the most effective pickup lines to percipient... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061547425
• ISBN13: 9780061547423
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Let us live and love

A book on ancient love poetry gives us context in modern, difficult times. Catullus :"My Lesbia, let us live and love/And not care tuppence for old men/who sermonize and disapprove." Focus on the here and now:" Be wise, strain the wine,and prune back your hopes to the short term... seize the day." That's Horace and as Higgins helfully informs us, he is talking about, well, "let's go to bed, right now." That's the original meaning of carpe diem. That insight is worth the price of the book but there is lots more:cheating men and lying women; getting dumped(great section on The Aeneid);and a quick quote list and discussion of Latin Poetry and art. Higgins is also a very funny writer. The book is a joy.