With its user-friendly, non-academic style this book is of interest to anyone learning Latin. Looking at topics ranging from Ancient Roman curses found at Bath and a birthday invitation from Hadrian's Wall to fascinating extracts from post-Renaissance Latinists like Descartes, "Annus Mirabilis" picks up where "Annus Horribilis" left off. It explores the joys of Latin poetry via Medieval lyrics and verse epitaphs. Letters reveal the gossip of emperors and the passion of lovers. Other passages show that Latin was the language in which some of the most important scientific and philosophical ideas of the modern age were expressed. Featuring many previously unpublished texts, all accompanied by extensive notes, full English translations and an appendix of useful grammar, if anyone asks 'Why do you want to learn Latin?', "Annus Mirabilis" provides the answer: because Latin is so much more than just the dead language of a fallen empire.