Tore Janson tells the history of Latin from its origins to the present. He offers persuasive arguments for its value and provides direct access to its fascinating worlds, both past and present. He describes how Latin spread through the classical world, its renewed importance in the Middle Ages, and its survival into modern times. He shows how spoken and written Latin evolved in different places and its central role in European history and culture. Brilliantly conceived and written with the same light touch as the author's bestselling history of languages, this book is a masterpiece of synthesis.