1.Livy's Roman History
This handsome six-volume set of Titus Livius’ Roman History was prepared as an English translation with the patronage of Vice Admiral Edward Vernon. Vernon served extensively in the Royal Navy under King George II, before his dishonourable discharge in 1746 for supposedly distributing pamphlets against the Admiralty. An earlier edition of the set, also in six volumes, appeared in 1744, but it is unclear if Vernon was involved in its publication.
Livy was born in the middle of the 1st century BC at Patavium in Italy’s north and died early in the 1st century AD. His 142-book history of Rome, Ab Urbe Condita, traced Rome’s history, from its foundation up to his own time. Today Livy’s work remains a very important source for the early history of Rome, although only books 1-10 and 21-45 survive.
The set is accompanied by an English translation of John Freinsheim’s 17th century supplement to Livy’s missing books. Freinshiem’s German work attempted to fill the lacunae in Livy’s text and drew upon ancient summaries of the missing books.
The translation is a work of considerable scholarly effort, demonstrated by the extensive geographical and chronological notes. The ‘Translator’s Preface’ even cites what he believes to be the funerary inscription of Livy himself.
An extensive index is also included for each volume, along with chronological tables that convert Livy’s periodisation based on the administration of Roman Consuls, to the associated year since the foundation of Rome.
Maps and numerous illustrative plates that reconstruct episodes from Livy’s text illuminate the work and include speculative examples of Roman dress and banquets, siege weaponry and battle tactics.