Latin Alive

In Latin Alive Joseph Solodow tells the story of how Latin developed into modern French Spanish and Italian and deeply affected English as well. Offering a gripping narrative of language change Solodow charts Latins course from classical times to the modern era with focus on the first millennium of the Common Era. Though the Romance languages evolved directly from Latin Solodow shows how every important feature of Latins evolution is also reflected in English. His story includes scores of intriguing etymologies along with many concrete examples of texts studies scholars anecdotes and historical events; observations on language; and more. Written with crystalline clarity this is the first book to tell the story of the Romance languages for the general reader and to illustrate so amply Latins many-sided survival in English as well.