Livy: History of Rome, Books 1-2, (LCL, 114)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent For Anyone Interested in Ancient History
Review: Livy's lengthy and detailed History of Rome covers many events that are little known today, but it makes excellent reading for anyone interested in ancient history. This Loeb Classical Library edition has many useful features. It has Livy's Latin text and an English translation side-by-side for easy study, it has the dates of events - both on our calendar and on the Roman calendar - along the margins, it has frequent notes to explain Livy's more obscure references, and at the end of each of Livy's 'books' there is a concise summary.

This first volume is one of the best in the whole series (which runs 14 volumes in this edition). Not only does it have a good introduction to the series, it also covers some of the most interesting events in Rome's history, running from its founding until 468 BC, and including Rome's transition from a kingdom to a republic.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent For Anyone Interested in Ancient History
Review: Livy's lengthy and detailed History of Rome covers many events that are little known today, but it makes excellent reading for anyone interested in ancient history. This Loeb Classical Library edition has many useful features. It has Livy's Latin text and an English translation side-by-side for easy study, it has the dates of events - both on our calendar and on the Roman calendar - along the margins, it has frequent notes to explain Livy's more obscure references, and at the end of each of Livy's 'books' there is a concise summary.

This first volume is one of the best in the whole series (which runs 14 volumes in this edition). Not only does it have a good introduction to the series, it also covers some of the most interesting events in Rome's history, running from its founding until 468 BC, and including Rome's transition from a kingdom to a republic.

Rating:
Summary: Better than I had hoped
Review: These little Loeb tomes are rather expensive, and are meant in part as a learning tool for the Latin student; that said, they are very satisfying! Livy is a storyteller first and foremost, and his opinions shine through his History. He applauds as the plebs throw off the tyrant Tarquinius, and checks them later for asserting their power while the Volsci prepare war on Rome.
He probes tensions between family and country, between the classes, between the resentment of power in the hands of few and the recurring desire for a dictator against whos judgement there is no appeal.
In Books 1-2 there are arrogant aristocrats, commoners who become senators and kings, 15-minutes-of-fame heroes, shifting tax codes, debtors prison, draft resistors. All woven into a fanstastic narrative.