Et Cetera - by Maia Lee-Chin (Hardcover)

About the Book

"... guide to memorable Latin phrases, including famous quotations on love, death, nature, politics, and more."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER
AN NPR "BOOK WE LOVE" FOR SUMMER 2024

A gorgeously illustrated guide to memorable Latin phrases, including famous quotations on love, death, nature, politics, and more.

Latin may be a "dead" language, but it's all around us--in science, philosophy, religion, and literature. From "carpe diem" to the more obscure "alea iacta est," classicist Maia Lee-Chin examines the deeper meanings of many Latin phrases still in use--as well as those lost to the ages.

Illustrated in artist Marta Bertello's haunting style, this unique compendium illuminates ancient Roman history and culture like never before.

Review Quotes

"You'll enjoy this slender volume yourself, whether a novice or veteran Latinist, and it would make a lovely gift for a family member or friend interested in the wisdom of the ancients, as viewed through this creative young author's fresh, modern lens."
(Richard A. LaFleur, Cambridge University Press)

"...a refreshing dusting-off of the genre of classical phrase compendiums, sure to appeal to a wide range of curious readers [...] Clearly a work of love, written by one of a new breed of classicists, this is a delightful following of Horace's inducement to make writing 'dulce et utile, ' both enjoyable and instructive--but you knew that, didn't you?" (Billy Collins, New York Times bestselling author and former U.S. Poet Laureate)

"Et Cetera is my Roman Empire. Literally. You would think a reference book of Latin phrases could not possibly make you cry. You would be wrong. Fresh, funny, and poignant [...] each lovingly illustrated phrase becomes a portal to a Rome we don't often see."
(Eunice Hong, author of Memento Mori: A Novel)

"A fascinating and beautiful introduction to Latin, infused with history and literature from the ancient world [...] it will intrigue even the staunchest of hellenophiles (like me)."
(Liv Albert, creator of the Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! Podcast)

About the Author

Maia Lee-Chin is a lover of casual conversations with the ancient world and is convinced that all translations are autobiographical. She claims she was born to be a classicist, citing her Greek goddess namesake and her lineage, which includes some of the earliest African Americans to obtain college degrees. When not writing, Maia plays video games, cooks, cleans (begrudgingly), works in urban education, and tries not to use epic poetry as a road map for life. She has other work featured in Eidolon and Ancient Exchanges.

Marta Bertello is grew up in Turin, Italy, where she graduated with honors from the Albertina Fine Art Academy. Her work focuses on suspended, slightly unsettling atmospheres, with special attention given to composition and visual storytelling. She lives and works in Venice.