Mythic re-telling of the foundation of Rome - Rated 
Other reviewers have dismissed this because of the 'inaccuracy' of the history, but the very idea of history in classical times was different from our definition: there was no strict divide between literature, history and (moral) philosophy and so we shouldn't judge ancient works by the same criteria that we might use of modern history books. Livy, writing under Augustus, was, like his contemporary Vergil, mythologising about the foundation of Rome, and his story of where the Romans came from and how the Roman character was formed, tells us more about Roman self-identity (or the way they wanted to see themselves) at the turning point between the Republic and the principate than about the past.
Having said that, Livy tells a fabulous story! My Latin's unfortunately not good enough to be able to judge the accuracy of the translation, but the content is amazing: from the early kings to their expulsion by the first Marcus Brutus and the beginning of the Republic, from Rome's small beginnings to her conquests and domination of Italy, it's all here. All the familiar stories of Romulus and Remus mothered by the wolf, Horatius at the bridge, the rape and suicide of Lavinia, the tragic story of Corialanus and his mother are here, and it's fascinating to read them in their original context.
Livy is lively, tragic, vivid and witty and that all comes over in the translation. Read this together with Vergil and compare their creative conception of what it means to be Roman, where they have come from and where they are going.
The War with Hannibal - Rated 
There is no better way of learning about Ancient Rome than to go the historians who lived in it. It will be very surprising to those not accustomed to reading ancient authors how approachable Livy's books are. Livy had a knack for telling a good story, and the ancient practice of re-creating, and in some cases, inventing speeches for key characters to deliver at key moments, is surprisingly effective. In fact, there is much wisdom in such a practice, for through such speeches we get the more subjective, emotional reality behind events. We could use some of that in our contemporary historical writing, which tends be very fact-based and yet missing the very important emotional context. Take the Iraqi war, for example. No doubt the history books will be full of data about its causes, but will future readers really understand the emotional context of the US response to 9-11? Would a speech encapsulating the misdirected rage not be helpful in this regard?
Anyway, this book would make a particularly good introduction to the classics, with the grandness of the story being told: This is the one that contains Hannibal's invasion of Italy, crossing the Alps with an international army of mercenaries and a few African elephants. It's a story full of suspense, with the Romans being shoved against the wall of their own home, suffering disaster after disaster, and then overcoming the odds through sheer grit and composure. On the moral side of things, it is difficult not to feel inspired in one personal's life after reading this until the memory of it all fades away--a good reason for getting the prior or next instalment of Livy.
Excellent - Rated
I bought this book to help me with my Latin AS Level course - and that it certainly did! The translation (from a linguistic point of view) follows the real Latin very closely, making literal translations very easy, whilst making the text sensible and interesting. If you are studying Livy as part of your AQA AS Level Latin course, I highly recommend this book - even if the course will only be around until 2006!
Irritatingly imprecise - Rated 
Whatever its other merits, the Selincourt translation is not good from the standpoint of accuracy. Imagine my fury when, having spent part of my dwindling student's allowance on this book, I discovered it was of little or no use in helping me to read closely through the original text. I think 'paraphrase' might have been a better description than 'translation'. Steer clear, those of you looking for anything remotely resembling the Latin.
Livy: A Master of History - Rated
It doesn't matter that the books need to be taken with a pinch of salt, when the writing is this good! The tales of honour and betrayal against the vivid backdrop of the founding of ancient Rome are so much more exciting than any modern writing I've read lately. Mixing Thucydides' gift for battle scenes and politics, and Suetonius' gift for humour, Livy is a fantastic writer who deserves to be read.
The translation is smooth and energised, and the only crime is that many of Livy's 100+ books have been lost.
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