This volume investigates the historiographical methods and literary significance of the Roman historian Livy within the context of the Augustan principate. Editors Christina S. Kraus and Jane D. Chaplin compile eighteen foundational essays that analyze Livy's narrative techniques, political motivations, and his role in shaping the Roman historical consciousness. By providing an introductory guide and contextual addenda, the authors offer a structured framework for students to engage with complex scholarly debates surrounding Livy's work.

Experts recognize this collection as a foundational resource for students and scholars of Roman historiography. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a comprehensive entry point into the complexities of Livian studies.