Special to the News-Journal written by Maureen Thornton
—
Those who follow Rick LaFleur’s columns in the News-Journal on the Latin language already know some things about the author.
He has a wife named Alice, a French Bulldog named Ipsa, a sharp intellect and a strong sense of humor. Some may have even caught his animated recital of his highly rated book, “Ubi Fera Sunt”, the Latin translation of Maurice Sendak’s children’s classic, “Where the Wild Things Are” at Little Switzerland Books and Beans a couple of years ago.
LaFleur’s newly-released book, “The Secret Lives of Words: From Rome to Apalachicola,” is sure to appeal to lovers of language, history and trivia.
LaFleur’s mother was from North Carolina and Rick spent a good deal of time visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains while growing up in Virginia and attending college at the University of Virginia, less than half an hour from the Blue Ridge Parkway’s northern terminus.
That love of the mountains led him to buy a modest cabin in Little Switzerland 20 years ago, where he, Alice and his dog Ipsa spend time when they are not at their home - designed by Alice - on Lake Oglethorpe near Athens, Georgia or in Apalachicola, Florida.
LaFleur received his Ph.D. in Classical Studies from Duke University and taught for 40 years at the University of Georgia in Athens, where he served for 21 years as head of one of the largest classics programs in North America and won numerous state, regional and national awards for teaching and professional service.
His many publications in the Latin language, literature and pedagogy (the science of teaching) range from the teaching of Latin to his children’s book and now, the “Secret Lives of Words.”
The seeds of LaFleur’s new book were planted in a seventh grade elective Latin class LaFleur signed up for when he was 11 years old and continued to germinate throughout his life into a love of all things ancient Rome and especially the Latin language.
The illustrated book includes a collection of columns he has written since 2014, some with references to North Carolina.
A chapter on apples opens with mentions of the Orchard at Altapass and the Apple Butter Festival in Bakersville, then discusses the history of apple tree cultivation in the ancient world and how apples figured prominently in Roman art and myth.
Among the 250 illustrations is a spectacular photo of the Perseid meteor shower over Price Lake, on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Blowing Rock taken by Tennessee photographer Rebecca Gillum (rebeccagillumphotography.com).
LaFleur’s signature style connects topics to their Greco-Roman origins and provides fascinating insights into the origins and evolution of the English language.
His love of teaching is evident throughout the book, which includes a special bonus for the language lovers: appendices with a guide to pronouncing classical Latin and a listing of Latin words and phrases with their English derivatives.The book is available through Amazon.