The Early History of Rome »

Titus Livius (59 B.C.-17 A.D.) began working on his history of Rome at the age of thirty and continued for more than forty years until his death. The history comprised 142 books, of which thirty-five survive.

Aubrey de Sélincourt (1896-1962) translated Livy, Heroditus, and Arrian for Penguin Classics.

Robert Ogilvie (1932-1981) taught classics and published widely on Roman writers, religion and history.

Stephen Oakley teaches classics at the University of Reading.

With stylistic brilliance and historical imagination, the first five books of Livy's monumental history of Rome record events from the foundation of Rome through the history of the seven kings, the establishment of the Republic and its internal struggles, up to Rome's recovery after the fierce Gallic invasion of the fourth century bc. Livy vividly depicts the great characters, legends, and tales, including the story of Romulus and Remus. Reprinting Robert Ogilvie's lucid 1971 introduction, this highly regarded edition now boasts a new preface, examining the text in light of recent Livy scholarship, informative maps, bibliography, and an index.

Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt with an introduction by Robert Ogilvie.