Long Live Latin by Nicola Gardini

I expected this book to mostly provide evidence of Latin and its impact on the world in the 21st century.  And I suppose it did in a roundabout way.

But what this book really provided was an account, author-by-author, of the rich variety of beauty, reflection and understanding to be culled from the ancients.  Which is exactly why I'm learning to read Latin.

And although I've really only read works by Cicero, Ovid and Virgil (and those in English translation) of the authors Gardini covered, it was tantalizing to learn what I can expect of the other great Latin writers once I get to them.  Catullus, Ennius, Caesar, Lucretius, Virgil, Tacitus, Sallust, Livy, Seneca, Apuleis, Petronius, Augustine, Juvenal, Propertius and Horace were each examined closely in the book.

And most, if not all, of these authors' writings already line the shelves in my study.

Although I'm still in the early stages of learning to read Latin, this book adds layers of rich incentive to continue on that journey.

And of course the book also reminds me how much I love Roman culture and history.  Learning Latin, and the prolonged study of ancient Greek history I'm currently in the midst of, will dramatically increase my ability to absorb, understand and enjoy Roman study.