Livy begins his history of the Roman War with Carthage with the following passage: "I am now about to tell the story of the most memorable war in history: that, namely, which was fought by Carthage under the leadership of Hannibal against Rome." Thus asserts Livy at the start of the decade beginning in 222bc, books 21–30. He was certainly correct regarding ancient history. The Indo-Germanic and Semitic races were at war with one another over world dominance. The historian notes that the two had a hatred for one another that was as great as their armies, and that they were not only evenly matched but also knowledgeable of the enemy's battle strategies and potential might.

Livy never downplays the exploits of Hannibal, a 26-year-old who emerged as the protagonist of his tale. Ninety thousand soldiers, twelve thousand cavalry, and thirty-seven elephants crossed the Alps, and he made up any facts he could not find in existing records. After failing to stop the Carthaginians in Gaul, Scipio the father attempted again in the Italian plains, but each setback terrorized the imperial city. After Trebia and Lake Trasimene, Fabius Maximus's delay strategies were successful in keeping the invaders at bay for a while, but another consul, Varro, was impatient, which led to the ultimate Roman loss at Cannae (216 b.c.e.). Hannibal could have easily reached Rome if he had capitalized on his victory.

Book 25 covers a different stage of the conflict. A seventy-four-year-old mathematician named Archimedes' inventions of the catapult and grappling hooks, which lifted the prows of Roman ships attempting to attack the breakwater and sank them, kept Marcellus, who was besieging Syracuse, at bay for three years. Ultimately, though, the Romans discovered the gap in the defenses and took control of the island. This war is not over, but will continue until Scipio pursues Hannibal all the way to Zamma outside of Carthage where he will lead Rome to their ultimate victory.

I was impressed that Livy opened his narrative mentioning Hannibal by name. That is undoubtedly because he is the most engaging character in the story and likely the best General in spite of ultimately being defeated by Scipio Africanus. It is a narrative is full of great commanders, brutal and bloody warfare, shifting loyalties, superstitions and omens, and enough thrills to keep the reader both informed and entertained. ( )

If anyone is interested in bringing that greatest of ancient wars to life in their mind, then this is a must read. While Livy is not necessarily the greatest on technical accuracy he paints a vivid picture of the imminent danger of the situation and the apparent hopelessness of the Roman cause all the while he is fully aware that everyone knows the ultimate outcome. The personalities of all the principal actors are creatively explored to keep the reader engaged. Sometimes I wonder if those who write historical fiction should be required to read Titus Livius first because he certainly sets the bar high. That may not be a great statement about Livy as a historian but it is certainly high praise for his literary genius. Nonetheless, it is also pretty good history as long as you have taken an actual college course on the Roman Republic and/or have read some reputable sources on the Punic Wars. ( )

ძააან მაგარი წიგნია მყარი არგუმენტებით გამტკიცებული ( )

goede psychologische tekening van Hannibal en vrij spannend in aanloop en eerste jaren, maar daarna saaie opeenvolging van feiten. ( )

Livius is een Romeinse geschiedschrijver uit de tijd van Augustus (rond het begin van onze jaartelling), die een 140-delige geschiedenis heeft geschreven van het Romeinse Rijk vanaf de stichting van de stad.
Deze vertaling omvat de delen 21 tot en met 30 waarin de Tweede Punische Oorlog wordt behandeld, waarin Hannibal ten strijde trok tegen de Romeinen. De eerste 150 blz van het boek zijn spannend: het verhaal van de tocht met olifanten over de Alpen en de twee grote veldslagen waarin Romeinse legers verpletterend worden verslagen. Daarna wordt het een onoverzichtelijk geheel van kleine schermutselingen waarbij nu eens de Carthagers winnen en dan weer de Romeinen. Op een gegeven moment hebben de Romeinen eindelijk een competente veldheer (Scipio die later de naam Africanus krijgt) die de Carthagers eerst uit Spanje verjaagt en vervolgens naar Afrika optrekt om Hannibal te dwingen zijn leger uit Italië terug te trekken.
De vertaling leest prettig, maar zoals gezegd de draad van het verhaal is moeilijk te volgen ( )