Philip Matyszak describes fifty-seven of the foremost Romans of the Republic, spanning the centuries from its birth to its bloody death. In this history we see the best and worst of the Roman elite: Licinius Crassus, a kind father and loving husband who crucified captured slaves by the thousands, or Cato the Censor, upright and incorruptible, xenophobic and misogynistic. Some families run through this history—the proud Claudians, the cultured Scipios, the noble Valerians—while others make but a single appearance on the stage.

Illustrated with a wealth of pictorial and archaeological detail, together with firsthand anecdotes from contemporary writers, these personal histories provide an overview of the development and expansion of Rome, encompassing foreign and civil wars as well as social strife and key legislation. The biographies are supplemented by time lines and data files as well as special features highlighting different aspects of Roman culture and society. 320 illustrations, 110 in color.