Ad Infinitum: A Biography of Latin by Nicholas Ostler. Walker.
Quite similar in intent and scope to A Natural History of Latin (indeed, Ad Infinitum's preface mentioned it in positive terms, which is why I bought it). It's an interesting and entertaining overview of Latin's history.
Although generally good, I found it curiously weak in some places, where Ostler came across strangely pedantic. For example, Ostler translates expecto patronum, from Harry Potter, as "I await the master". True, I guess, in the literal sense, but odd all the same.
Anyway, the lapses into unloving pedantry are rare. Recommended for language nerds.
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