Rome and Italy
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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 colourful 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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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Livy has a knack for breathing life into historical characters and is a natural storyteller in a way you rarely find among historians. I've seldom been entranced by historical writing in the way I was reading this book.
The book encompasses a big chunk of Roman history and Livy covers the ground at quite a pace so it can be a bit of a rollercoaster. As a crash course on Pre-imperial Roman History I doubt it can be beaten.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
after reading Livys first book i was very much looking forward to this one and it didnt disappoint. pretty much every part of the book is great, and the detail he goes into in describing events, people or towns is just amazing.
it is a travesty that the rest of the books he wrote didnt make it through time!
it is a travesty that the rest of the books he wrote didnt make it through time!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
28 of 32 people found the following review helpful
A dated translation, but still great reading.
15 Feb 2002
Format: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.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Classic History
27 Jun 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Livy, a contemporary of the Emperor Augustus, devoted his adult life to the writing of his HISTORY OF ROME. The entire work was probably intended to comprise 120 books. Subsequently it seems he was prevailed upon to add a further 30 books covering contemporary events, of which he completed just 22. Only 35 of the total of 142 books Livy wrote survive to the present day. They come from among the first 45 and cover most of the period from the founding of Rome to 167 BC. This volume, ROME AND ITALY, contains Books VI through X, covering the period from 386 BC (the aftermath of Rome's defeat by the Gauls) to 292 BC. During this 94 year span, Rome rose to become the dominant power on the Italian peninsula.
Most of the events Livy describes happened long before his lifetime. Because of the sparse written records, especially from Rome's early history, he had to rely on traditional information, the writings of other historians, and public records (i.e. inscriptions, statues, lists of consuls and triumphs). On occasion, when faced with conflicting accounts, Livy notes his difficulty and presents the different possibilities along with comments on what he believes was the most likely course of events.
Two common themes run through the histories presented in this volume. One is the continual warfare between Rome and its rivals, most notably the Samnites and the Etruscans. Livy's description of these events is episodic, giving the reader little sense of the larger conflict. There's an uprising here, another there, but little indication of the broader objective as Rome extends its power and dominion ever farther. It always seems that the city is threatened and has no choice but to respond.
The other recurring theme is the political battle within Rome between the dominant patricians, determined to hold on to their monopoly of the most powerful state positions, and the plebeians, who aspire to a share of leadership. Livy, a believer in the virtue and superiority of the old ways, but sympathetic to the talents and abilities of many of the plebeian leaders, seems personally torn on this issue. At times he seems to support the propriety of one side, at times the aspirations of the other.
Livy is probably not the most rigorous historian ever, but remember that he intended his HISTORY for a popular and contemporary audience, and not with future ages much in mind. He wanted to inform, and to promote what he saw as the traditional virtues of Roman society to the populace of his own era, which he viewed as corrupt and decadent. Even now, however, his work makes for interesting and informative reading. Some of what he relates is mythical in nature, some possibly sensationalized, but he was writing for a popular audience and sought to entertain as well as inform. His work still does exactly that. It's an opportunity to look at events through the eyes of a man who lived more than two thousand years ago. I found this book fascinating. It's classic history. Don't pass it by.
Most of the events Livy describes happened long before his lifetime. Because of the sparse written records, especially from Rome's early history, he had to rely on traditional information, the writings of other historians, and public records (i.e. inscriptions, statues, lists of consuls and triumphs). On occasion, when faced with conflicting accounts, Livy notes his difficulty and presents the different possibilities along with comments on what he believes was the most likely course of events.
Two common themes run through the histories presented in this volume. One is the continual warfare between Rome and its rivals, most notably the Samnites and the Etruscans. Livy's description of these events is episodic, giving the reader little sense of the larger conflict. There's an uprising here, another there, but little indication of the broader objective as Rome extends its power and dominion ever farther. It always seems that the city is threatened and has no choice but to respond.
The other recurring theme is the political battle within Rome between the dominant patricians, determined to hold on to their monopoly of the most powerful state positions, and the plebeians, who aspire to a share of leadership. Livy, a believer in the virtue and superiority of the old ways, but sympathetic to the talents and abilities of many of the plebeian leaders, seems personally torn on this issue. At times he seems to support the propriety of one side, at times the aspirations of the other.
Livy is probably not the most rigorous historian ever, but remember that he intended his HISTORY for a popular and contemporary audience, and not with future ages much in mind. He wanted to inform, and to promote what he saw as the traditional virtues of Roman society to the populace of his own era, which he viewed as corrupt and decadent. Even now, however, his work makes for interesting and informative reading. Some of what he relates is mythical in nature, some possibly sensationalized, but he was writing for a popular audience and sought to entertain as well as inform. His work still does exactly that. It's an opportunity to look at events through the eyes of a man who lived more than two thousand years ago. I found this book fascinating. It's classic history. Don't pass it by.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
fortes fortunam iuvare
8 May 2012
Format:Kindle Edition
"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 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' hostility 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.
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 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' hostility 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.
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