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Product Description
Books VI-X of Livy's monumental work trace Rome's fortunes from its near collapse after defeat by the Gauls in 386 bc to its emergence, in a matter of decades, as the premier power in Italy, having conquered the city-state of Samnium in 293 bc. In this fascinating history, events are described not simply in terms of partisan politics, but through colorful portraits that bring the strengths, weaknesses and motives of leading figures such as the noble statesman Camillus and the corrupt Manlius vividly to life. While Rome's greatest chronicler intended his history to be a memorial to former glory, he also had more didactic aims - hoping that readers of his account could learn from the past ills and virtues of the city.
About the Author
Titus Livy was bron in 59BC at Padua but later moved to Rome. He lived in an eventful age but little is known about his life. He worked on his History of Rome for over forty years. Betty Radice became joint editor of Penguin Classics in 1964. She has edited and introduced a huge range of works in the Penguin Classics, including Pliny and Dante. She died in 1985. Robert Maxwell Ogilvie was Professor of Humanity at the University of St Andrews from 1975 until his death in 1981. He was the author of many books on Roman religion.
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First Sentence
1. The history of the Romans from the foundation of the City to its capture, first under kings, then under consuls and dictators, decemviri and consular tribunes, wars abroad and dissensions at home, I have set out in five books, covering matters which were obscure both through their great antiquity, like objects dimly perceived in the far distance, and because in those days there were few written records, the only reliable means of preserving a memory of past events. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
1. The history of the Romans from the foundation of the City to its capture, first under kings, then under consuls and dictators, decemviri and consular tribunes, wars abroad and dissensions at home, I have set out in five books, covering matters which were obscure both through their great antiquity, like objects dimly perceived in the far distance, and because in those days there were few written records, the only reliable means of preserving a memory of past events. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
fortes fortunam iuvare,
By
This review is from: Penguin Classics Rome And Italy (Paperback)
'fortune favours the brave' (Livy 8.29)This edition has an excellent and fascinating introduction by renowned Livy scholar R. M. Ogilvie. The notes are provided at the bottom of the page and are helpful but unobtrusive. Livy is renowned for his prose and even in the translation its beauty sometimes shines through. I didn't compare the translation to the original very often, but the translation is crisp and readable. In Book 6, Livy candidly acknowledges that the reader must feel tired of reading about all the wars the Romans fought with the Volscians and also wonder how the latter always found new men after so many defeats (6.12). This could be said about the Rome's wars in general. The annalistic style and its recounting of short wars can become very repetitive'year after year so and so are elected consuls and they slaughter one army after another. However, when Livy stays with a single narrative for a longer time, the narratives can be evocative and exciting. The story of the Caudine Pass in Book IX, for example, is as gripping as any. Books 5-10 give a sense of how Rome began to grow from one city among many to the seat of an empire. It also shows how seriously the Romans took the will of the gods, and how many people they slaughtered to attain the foundation of their empire. Livy shows Roman expansion in the best light, justifying it through their neighbours' aggression and perfidy. However, he also allows the enemy view to be presented. The Samnites say the Romans are 'a people always greedy for further advances' (9.38). Livy allows another of the Samnites to say: 'you always give your fraud some semblance of legality' (9.11). And the Samnites tell the Etruscans that together they could force the Romans: 'to fight not to maintain their intolerable tyranny over Italy but for their own self-preservation' (10.16). If you are reading Livy because of Machiavelli, this book brings Machiavelli to life in a new way since it makes you realize that his Discourses is truly the Discourses on Livy. I would be tempted to give the book four stars because of its repetitive nature but couldn't considering how influential it has been and how valuable it is as a document of Roman self-understanding.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A dated translation, but still great reading.,
By
This review is from: Penguin Classics Rome And Italy (Paperback)
This volume contains books VI through X of Livy's monumental 120+ volume history of Rome. It covers the time between the sack of the city by the Gauls (c. 396 BCE) and Rome's emergence as the single most powerful state in Italy (c. 293 BCE). Like other Penguin classics, the translation in this volume is just a bit dated and stuffy in tone, but the warmth and vitality of Livy's style shines through nonetheless.One of the benefits to being interested in ancient Rome in particular is that the Romans were such a literate people, and so taken with their own perceived greatness, that they wrote a great deal, and much of this writing has survived down to our own times. Not only does this provide an invaluable window onto the remote past, it also makes for good reading. Livy (and a number of other Roman era authors) can sound remarkably modern in their sentiments, and even casual readers should be pleasantly surprised by the vigor and readability of Livy's prose.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Story!,
By
This review is from: Penguin Classics Rome And Italy (Paperback)
The first thing you will notice about Livy; is that this guy really knows how to tell a story. Sure he is a little over the top with his Roman bias, but who cares. Livy turns Roman history into a series of fun to read tales.The reader also becomes somewhat overwhelmed by the almost constant warfare, of the ancient world. These people lived and died by the rule of the sword. Throw in the occasional plague outbreak, civil uprising, crop failure, and you start to get a good idea of how these people lived their lives. Anyone that is interested in political history and military strategy, will find Livy offers lots of examples. There is one section where Livy gets off track, and compares Alexander The Great, to the Roman military machine. He debates whether or not Alexander could have beaten the Romans. The argument ended up sounding like a sports debate, comparing Orr and Gretzky. Over all this was a very informative and enjoyable history.
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