Social Variation and the Latin Language Hardback - Hardcover

'Surprisingly accessible ... Adams prizes clarity and precision ... The book emerges as an intellectual cousin of Sir Ronald Syme's classic analysis of the rise of the Emperor Augustus, The Roman Revolution.' Times Literary Supplement

'More than any scholar of the modern era, [Adams] has revealed features of Latin which bring the language to life as a dynamic vehicle of communication among everyday speakers. ... The present study reflects [his] mastery of an extraordinary range of Latin texts. ... [Adams] has given us a rich resource for consultation; he has addressed a range of topics worthy of further research; he frequently provides a potent corrective and supplement to standard Latin grammars and accounts of the rise of Romance languages.' Philip Baldi and Paul B. Harvey, The Classical Review

'... Adams' unsurpassed knowledge of the Latin language and his outstanding philological acumen [are] everywhere on display in this book, which contains a wealth of new insights into Latin texts of all periods. There will be a temptation for Latin scholars to buy this book and use it as a work of reference. The organization of the chapters, the level of detail and the excellent indices mean that it could profitably service as such ... Those who read [it] will undoubtedly be richly rewarded.' James Clackson, The Journal of Roman Studies

J. N. Adams is an Emeritus Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford and a Fellow of the British Academy. He was previously a Professor of Latin at the Universities of Manchester and Reading. He is the author of many books on the Latin language, including most recently The Regional Diversification of Latin, 200 BC–AD 600 (Cambridge, 2007) and Bilingualism and the Latin Language (Cambridge, 2003).