Those endless afternoons where you struggled to remember the third person singular present indicative of volo (vult) may be a long time ago. But, if you have the vaguest memory of the ablative absolute, the locative and the gerund, you mastery of Latin will spring back to life with Amo, amas, amat...and all that. In his trip through the world's most influential language, Harry Mount uncorks its magic, drawing on Latin lovers from Kingsley Amis to John Cleese, from Evelyn Waugh to Donna Tart. Read this book and you will know Latin. Know Latin and - mirabile dictu - you will know Wilfred Owen's misery, Catullus's aching heart and the comedy of a thousand bachelor schoolmasters.
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Review
If you know someone who missed out on Latin at school and wants to live a happier life, you could do no better than give them Harry Mount's entertainingly educative Latin primer --Daily Mail
Amo, Amas, Amat... is a diverting meander and Mount's love of Latin shines out on every page --The Spectator
Latin without the pain --Guardian --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Amo, Amas, Amat... is a diverting meander and Mount's love of Latin shines out on every page --The Spectator
Latin without the pain --Guardian --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
About the Author
Harry Mount read Classics at Oxford and was a Latin tutor before becoming a journalist. He has been a leader-writer and New York correspondent at the Daily Telegraph. His memoir of his time as a barrister's pupil, My Brief Career, is also published by Short Books
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
60 of 64 people found the following review helpful
By Imperator
Format:Hardcover
I was very surprised to see some of the negative reviews that this book has received here. I am a recently qualified Latin teacher, and I have recent experience of Latin from both sides of the teacher / student divide. I found the book to be thoroughly entertaining and informative, occasionally downright hilarious, and it consistently held my attention.
I think the discrepancies in the reviews above are largely due to people's misguided expectations of the book. It is not (nor could it possibly be used as) a reference work by which one could expect to learn the language. Its audience is probably limited to those who already have a reasonable knowledge of Latin, and, put simply, the author aims to reward your knowledge (no matter how basic) with some clever 'in jokes' and literary references. He does so, in my opinion, with a good deal of skill and success.
I think the discrepancies in the reviews above are largely due to people's misguided expectations of the book. It is not (nor could it possibly be used as) a reference work by which one could expect to learn the language. Its audience is probably limited to those who already have a reasonable knowledge of Latin, and, put simply, the author aims to reward your knowledge (no matter how basic) with some clever 'in jokes' and literary references. He does so, in my opinion, with a good deal of skill and success.
90 of 103 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I couldn't believe I would enjoy a book based on the latin language and how it might affect the way I go about my life, but having been given a copy of Amo, Amas, Amat I could not put it down. Not only is it written with great wit and intelligence, but it really makes understanding Latin easy in a way I could never have believed possible when it was taught to me at school. Thank you, Harry Mount, for finally bringing Latin to life for me.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By LXIX
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
I was given this book by Secret Santa in my office last Christmas (presumably because I have some Roman numerals tattooed on my arm). It's written in a light-hearted and witty way throughout and is a fast, entertaining read.
I wouldn't recommend this, though, if you're looking at seriously trying to learn Latin and I think this is where the book falls down - instead of bogging us down in verb tenses etc the author should have just continued with an amusing look at where Latin is still featured in the world today. This is the book's strength - a humorous examination of the continuing legacy and prevalence of the ancient language spoken by the Romans (in some cases in very unlikely places).
Never mind, I'm off to get SPQR tattooed on my other arm.
I wouldn't recommend this, though, if you're looking at seriously trying to learn Latin and I think this is where the book falls down - instead of bogging us down in verb tenses etc the author should have just continued with an amusing look at where Latin is still featured in the world today. This is the book's strength - a humorous examination of the continuing legacy and prevalence of the ancient language spoken by the Romans (in some cases in very unlikely places).
Never mind, I'm off to get SPQR tattooed on my other arm.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dire
An utterly pointless tome.
Mount's humour is prep-school-puerile to the point of nastiness. For example, he makes "comic" reference to Paul Gascoine beating his wife. Read more
Mount's humour is prep-school-puerile to the point of nastiness. For example, he makes "comic" reference to Paul Gascoine beating his wife. Read more
Published 2 months ago by leofwine
5.0 out of 5 stars
latin.
great primer, afraid i had the same problem as winston churchill, in declining mensa (table), in the vocative it is addressed as 'O table'
however, the book is first class and... Read more
however, the book is first class and... Read more
Published 5 months ago by james
5.0 out of 5 stars
What did the Romans ever do for us?
For someone who shunned the classics when made to learn Latin, my curiosity at the language was aroused by this little book. Read more
Published 5 months ago by chris west
1.0 out of 5 stars
Won't amuse or educate
To me the humour in this book falls very flat, and as an attempt at teaching Latin it is a total failure. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Andy K
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book
It arrived in good time, in perfect condition, reasonably priced and brought back so many memories of latin classes at school, but this time I laughed out loud!: Superb!
Published 9 months ago by Wells86fr
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasant ramble through Latin
I really enjoyed this, it's a chatty breeze through Latin sentence construction with lots of stories in-between and a useful phrase section at the back. Read more
Published 15 months ago by A. I. Mackenzie
4.0 out of 5 stars
A breezy intro to Latin
This book is an ideal breezy and chatty accompaniment to a traditional grammar primer, and warrants re-reading when your head is spinning with too much of the serious stuff. Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2011 by Daniel Vincent
4.0 out of 5 stars
good
Book received as specified. There was a mark on cover like a label had been removed,not ideal as a present
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by Mrs. Susan Claxton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth reading
Excellent Book.
Really takes you back to your latin lesssons. It explains things that i didn't understand then!
Really takes you back to your latin lesssons. It explains things that i didn't understand then!
Published on 15 Aug 2009 by Deb M
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amo
Amo,Amas,Amat is a pleasure to read, witty and amusing and, of course, very informative. For anyone interested in language it is a must. Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2009 by Jeannie
Listmania!
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