Hannibal

by Livy

'We have nothing left in the world but what we can win with our swords.'

The remarkable account of Hannibal crossing the Alps with his elephants and winning the Battle of the Trebbia.

One of 46 new books in the bestselling Little Black Classics series, to celebrate the first ever Penguin Classic in 1946. Each book gives readers a taste of the Classics' huge range and diversity, with works from around the world and across the centuries - including fables, decadence, heartbreak, tall tales, satire, ghosts, battles and elephants.

Genres: History, Classics, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Italy, Biography, Roman

ebook

Published March 3, 2016

About the author

Titus Livius (Patavinus) (64 or 59 BC – AD 17)—known as Livy in English, and Tite-Live in French—was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people – Ab Urbe Condita Libri (Books from the Foundation of the City) – covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditional foundation in 753 BC through the reign of Augustus in Livy's own time. He was on familiar terms with the Julio-Claudian dynasty, advising Augustus's grandnephew, the future emperor Claudius, as a young man not long before 14 AD in a letter to take up the writing of history. Livy and Augustus's wife, Livia, were from the same clan in different locations, although not related by blood.

Reviews

[Darwin8u · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vol 85 of the Penguin's Little Black Classics series. The Little Black Classics Box Set was originally 80 books. Penguin released last year another 46, expanding the series to 126. I've been reading Livy's The History of Rome: The Complete Work this year, and this book is just a piece of Livy's War with Hannibal (which includes books 21-30). This small book only includes Book 21 of Livy's History of Rome.

For more Livy on Hannibal, go here.

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whenever I read about Troy, I cannot help but root for the Trojans. The same goes with Hannibal - I guess I prefer the underdog. This account is of course not really an objective account as history is written by the victors, and Livy being Roman didn't help of course. This is just a short part of the history of Hannibal, but nevertheless I thought it was a rather interesting short read.

~Little Black Classics #85~

Find this and other reviews on my blog https://www.urlphantomhive.com

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read although not the best translation of Livy's work but enjoyable none the less.

If you were thrilled by the adventure of Hannibal fighting against the romans as a child, than this is certainly for you.

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some thoughts:
- 🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘

[JK · Rating 1 out of 5]

I struggled with this. Perhaps the disappointment began when I realised this wasn’t an account of the life of our favourite cannibal. Instead, it details the Carthaginian invasion of Rome.

My assumption is that there’s military insight here, alongside political commentary. I can’t really confirm, as my eyes were glazed over the entire time. I can barely remember a thing; I was thinking about what I was going to have for dinner. Not even the macabre notion of bringing elephants along to cross the Alps appealed to me here. I was out.

The plan is to continue the Little Black Classics range until I’ve read each one I’ve already bought. After that, no more. They are taking up precious reading time and provoking an irrevocable ire in me which I no longer wish to feel.

[Artur · Rating 4 out of 5]

The classic history work by Livy or rather a short sample for a larger story about Hannibal, his life and conquest in favor of Carthage. At moments may be read almost as an action movie synopsis. Although, one should take the described with a grain of salt because Livy was a Roman historian after all, so depiction of his country foe may be a bit biased even though he did not clearly express any such inclinations.

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannibal By Livy (59 BCE - 17 CE)

‘We have nothing left in the world but what we can win with our swords’.

‘Penguin Little Black Classic’, 54 pages, no chapters, directly from the great work of Livy, 142 books of which 35 still survive.

Very interesting insights into the invasion of Italy by the Carthaginians, the political astuteness and military genius of Hannibal.

[M Rins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good short read for those with an interest in history. This is one of the little black classics that I would actually recommend as it isn't just a random collection of excerpts slapped together without thought for structure or coherence.

On the subject of structure though, perhaps it would have benefited from the addition of chapters to break up the long, continuous essay.

[Jara De Boer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haha yeah dude thats not fucking weird or whatever, just bring some elephants with u 2 cross the alps, no worries

[Matic Sket · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ta je slaba ...
Hannibal, Dumbo in družba slončkov, ki se je sprehajala po Alpah je sigurno opisana v kakšni boljši knjigi, mogoče so še kakšen selfie stisnal?

[Ben Healey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was short and sweet and makes me really, really want to read more about Hannibal. I would really appreciate if anyone can offer some suggestions :)

[Dato · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best military tactician of all time.

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting short book. Could have done with a bit more context at the start, but definitely an enjoyable quick read. Recommend.

[Kenneth Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livy's account of Hannibal is one of the most compelling sections of Livy's History of Rome, beginning from the crossing of the Alps to Hannibal's failed cooperation with the Seleucid Empire.

[Liza · Rating 2 out of 5]

My favourite characters were the elephants.
2/5☆

[Anna T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book! I’d not heard a lot abt this war before reading it and it was really well written! :)

[elías]

The Anatomy of Obidience by kawasaki_jo 4.5/5

[Yu4i · Rating 3 out of 5]

dude should've won tbh

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good though unfortunately an excerpt.