The Early History of Rome

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 B.C. 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.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt with a New Preface by Stephen Oakley

Prefatory Note
Introduction

THE EARLY HISTORY OF ROME

Book One
Rome under the Kings

Book Two
The Beginnings of the Republic

Book Three

The Patricians at Bay

Book Four
War and Politics
Book Five
The Capture of Rome
Maps: Latium; Rome
Appendix
Index

Aubrey de Sélincourt (1896-1962) was educated at Rugby and University College, Oxford. A scholar and translator, he translated Livy’s The Early History of Rome (Books I—V) and The War with Hannibal (Books XXI—XXX), The Histories of Herodotus and The Campaigns of Alexander by Arrian, all for the Penguin Classics. A schoolmaster of genius for twenty-six years, he retired in 1947 to the Isle of Wight, where he lived until his death.