Livy's historical imagination enabled him to bring alive the great characters and scenes of Rome's past. Most of Livy's (c. 59 BC–AD 17) life was devoted to writing his monumental History of Rome which comprised 142 books. It brought him great fame, and legend has it that a man came all the way from Cadiz just to look at him. The Early History of Rome contains the first five books and proceeds 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. Here readers will encounter the famous story of Romulus and Remus among a number of other familiar legends and tales.

Publication Year: -29