Latin: Or the Empire of a Sign Hardcover - 2001

“... [a] fascinating and lively survey of the place of Latin western culture during the past 400 years.”—Independent

“... a lucid , learned retelling of the fortunes of the Latin language in the modern era. A scholarly work, this will nonetheless appeal to general readers as well.”—History

“... an eloquent obituary ...”—Spectator

“... detailed and wide-ranging ...”—Los Angeles Times Book Review

“... richly researched and delightful ... with scholars of Waquet’s generosity and ability, the old language might yet have a future.”—New Criterion

“... the book is valuable if for no other reason than for the historical light is sheds on contemporary debates over the value of a ‘traditional’ education—and for reminding us that a classical education is sometimes more about class than about education.”—Washington Times

“A splendid book: original in method, suggestive in argument, and a pleasure to read.”—London Review of Books

“And for something completely differently serious, read part of Europe’s future in part of its past: the fascinating Latin: or the Empire of a Sign.”—A.C. Grayling, Guardian, Summer Choice 2002

“It is a wonderful survey of the uses to which we have put Latin.”—A. N. Wilson

“Latin is dead and this book is its epitaph ... it is the merit and interest of Waquet's survey that she finds Latin not only deployed for the liturgy, but also to describe things carnal, pornographic, or otherwise shameful.”—Daily Telegraph

“Waquet.s wonderful, readable book (in Howe’s fine translation) provides an intellectual history of the Latin language ... Waquet memorabluy charts Latin’s reception in scholarly, comic, tender and exhaustive detail through learned, literary and popular sources.”—Choice

Francoise Waquet is a director of research at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris. Among her books are "Latin," and in French, "Les fetes royales sous la Restauration ou l'Ancien Regime retrouve" and "La Republique des Lettres" (with Hans Bots).