This volume investigates the surviving fragments, citations, and summaries of Livy's lost historical works to reconstruct the broader narrative of early Roman history. D. S. Levene, a scholar of classical literature, provides a critical framework that contextualizes these remnants within the tradition of Roman historiography. By presenting the original Latin alongside a modern English translation, the work serves as a scholarly bridge for understanding the evolution of Roman historical writing.

Experts highlight this volume as a foundational resource for researchers analyzing the fragmentary nature of ancient historical texts. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the precision of the editorial commentary provided by Levene.