Description

Easton Press leather edition of Titus Livius's "The History of Early Rome," a limited edition, Translated by Aubrey de Selincourt, Illustrated by Raffaele Scorzelli, one of the 100 GREATEST BOOKS EVER WRITTEN series, published in 1978. Bound in deep hunter green leather, the book has ivory French moire silk end leaves, acid-free paper, Symth-sewn binding, a satin book marker, hubbed spine, gold gilding on three edges---in near FINE condition Titus Livius, who lived from 59 B.C.---A.D. 17, was a contemporary of Emperor Augustus. The History opens with the end of the Trojan War, the wanderings of Aeneas exiled from Troy and settling in Italy, the birth of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founding of Rome in 752 B.C. Livy was on familiar terms with members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and a friend of Augustus. In his works, Livy often expressed his deep affection and pride for Patavium, and the city was well known for its conservative values in morality and politics. "He was by nature a recluse, mild in temperament and averse to violence; the restorative peace of his time gave him the opportunity to turn all his imaginative passion to the legendary and historical past of the country he loved." Pollio attempted to bribe the slaves of wealthy citizens to expose the whereabouts of their masters; his bribery did not work, and the citizens instead pledged their allegiance to the Senate . Livy probably went to Rome in the 30s BC. During his time in Rome, he was never a senator nor held a government position. His writings contain elementary mistakes on military matters, indicating that he probably never served in the Roman army . However, he was educated in philosophy and rhetoric. It seems that Livy had the financial resources and means to live an independent life. He devoted a large part of his life to his writings, which he was able to do because of his financial freedom. Livy was known to give recitations to small audiences. Augustus was considered by later Romans to have been the greatest Roman emperor, benefiting Livy's reputation long after his death. Suetonius described how Livy encouraged the future emperor Claudius , who was born in 10 BC, to write historiographical works during his childhood. In Livy's preface to his history, he said that he did not care whether his personal fame remained in darkness, as long as his work helped to "preserve the memory of the deeds of the world’s preeminent nation." Because Livy was mostly writing about events that had occurred hundreds of years earlier, the historical value of his work was questionable, although many Romans came to believe his account to be true. Livy was married and had at least one daughter and one son. Titus Livius died at his home city of Patavium in AD 17. 500 pages, including an Index of Principal Names. I offer Combined shipping.