A History of Rome from the Foundation of the City to the Sole Rule of julius Caesar by Theodor Mommsen. Introduced by Anthony Grafton. Translated by W.P.Dickson. Edited by C.J. Shepherd. 26 photographic plates of statues and reliefs. Map endpapers. Quarter-bound in brown leather with blue cloth sides blocked with a gilt image. Dark brown slipcase. 771pp. 25x18cm.

The classical historian Theodor Mommsen (1817–1903) published his History of Rome between 1854 and 1856. His work was received with widespread acclaim by the scholarly community and the reading public. In 1902, in recognition of this monumental work, Mommsen was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and acclaimed as 'the greatest living master of the art of historical writing'. Mommsen rejected traditional Enlightenment accounts, which glorified ancient Rome; instead, guided by a new and rigorous criticism of sources, he began the demythologisation of Roman history. In a vivacious and engaging style, using modern terms to express classical ideas, Mommsen drew bold parallels between the nineteenth century and classical Rome.