This volume investigates the historiographical methods and literary significance of the Roman historian Livy within the context of the Augustan principate. Editors Christina Shuttleworth Kraus and Jane D. Chaplin compile eighteen foundational essays that analyze Livy's narrative techniques, his role as a chronicler of Roman identity, and his position in the intellectual climate of his era. The text serves as a scholarly bridge, connecting historical analysis with modern critical approaches to ancient texts.

Scholars and students of classical history frequently cite this collection as a primary resource for understanding the evolution of Livian studies. Experts highlight the editorial work as a standard entry point for those seeking to navigate the complex academic discourse surrounding Roman historiography.