Latin Love Lessons: Put a Little Ovid in Your Life

A book on ancient love poetry gives us context in modern, difficult times. Catullus :"My Lesbia, let us live and love/And not care tuppence for old men/who sermonize and disapprove." Focus on the here and now:" Be wise, strain the wine,and prune back your hopes to the short term... seize the day." That's Horace and as Higgins helfully informs us, he is talking about, well, "let's go to bed, right now." That's the original meaning of carpe diem. That insight is worth the price of the book but there is lots more:cheating men and lying women; getting dumped(great section on The Aeneid);and a quick quote list and discussion of Latin Poetry and art. Higgins is also a very funny writer. The book is a joy.