Rebecca’s Reviews > The History of Rome, Books 1-5: The Early History of Rome > Status Update
Rebecca
is on page 326 of 488
Well into Book IV, I think I've given Livy's "Early History" a very fair reading, and I'm finding it increasingly boring. It seems that early Roman history, probably like all groups then, is just a repetitious cycle of petty scurmishes interrupted by civil unrest. It is interesting to learn the transition from monarchy to electoral government, but thereafter only the names of the protagonists change.
— Oct 22, 2026 06:10AM
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Rebecca’s Previous Updates
Rebecca
is on page 242 of 488
So, halfway thru, I can say I enjoy Livy's translated style, but his story is just one long loop of: political upheaval between the consuls/patricians and the tribunes/rabble interrupted at apex by attacks from neighboring tribes. Routinely. Predictably. Embellished by impressive lists of Latin names from consular election to the next. Not great reading, actually.
— Oct 17, 2026 03:06PM
Rebecca
is on page 62 of 488
Judging by this translation, Livy is a quite readable and entertaining historian.
— Oct 04, 2026 06:28AM