Greek to Us: The Fascinating Ancient Greek That Shapes Our World

Classicist and translator Davie (Et Tu, Brute?) offers an erudite, entertaining look at how the ancient Greeks have left an imprint on the modern world through their words. Surveying the realms of art, science, warfare, love and friendship, and more, Davie shows that many concepts taken for granted today have their roots firmly planted in the fertile soil of ancient Greece, from drama, tragedy, and comedy to oligarchy, demagogue, tyrant, and politics (derived from politika, meaning “‘matters to do with the polis’ or ‘citizen body’ ”). Davie shows how the nuanced nature of these inherited terms adds richness to modern life. For instance, Aristotle drew a clear distinction between the king and the tyrant: the king consulted the interests of his subjects, the tyrant only his own, a notion that inspired America’s founding fathers to put in the Constitution a series of roadblocks against a tyrant seizing power. Davie posits some strange and surprising lineages, as well, including the possibility that the melody of “The Star-Spangled Banner” can be traced, via a bawdy British drinking song, back to the ancient poet Anacreon. This offers rich food for thought about the way language informs human experience, history, and culture. (Jan.)