Did you know that the word 'prestige' derives from the Latin word for 'illusion'? Or that 'infantry' stems from a Latin word meaning one who could not speak?

In this original and highly entertaining book, Peter Jones reveals the roots of Latin words that are now common in the English language and shows how Romans actually used them in the ancient world.

Covering every aspect of Roman life - from politics, philosophy, religion and the arts, to technology, warfare, medicine and botany - Quid Pro Quo highlights the vital role Latin has played in the creation of our vast vocabulary.

"What did the Romans ever do for us? Well, besides the sanitation, the roads, etc, they left us Latin, and in this wonderfully informative survey, Peter Jones guides us through the ways in which their language has percolated through our own. Jones wears his learning lightly and there's an arresting insight or a fascinating historical anecdote on every page." - Mail on Sunday

"Wonderfully enteratining" - Spectator