This book investigates how Roman writers of the Late Republic and Augustan periods navigated the conflict between historical accuracy and the legendary nature of traditional myths. Matthew Fox, a scholar of classical literature, examines the works of prominent authors such as Cicero, Livy, Virgil, Propertius, and Ovid. He argues that their treatment of Rome's regal period serves as a reflection of the political instability and social upheaval characterizing the transition from Republic to Empire. By analyzing the narrative techniques employed by these authors, Fox demonstrates how myth was utilized to negotiate the complexities of Roman identity during a time of significant cultural change.

Experts recognize this monograph as a rigorous contribution to the study of Augustan literature and Roman historiography. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is tailored for scholars and students of classical antiquity.