Livy 
The History of Rome 

Literally translated, first published in 1853. According to Wikipedia: ‘Livy’s work met with instant acclaim. His books were published in sets of ten, although when entirely completed, his whole work was available for sale in its entirety. His highly literary approach to his historical writing renders his works very entertaining, and they remained constantly popular from his own day, through the Middle Ages, and into the modern world. Dante speaks highly of him in his poetry, and Francis I of France commissioned extensive artwork treating Livian themes. That he was chosen by Rome’s first emperor to be the private tutor to his successor indicates Livy’s renown as a great writer and sage. As topics from his history appear to have been used for writing topics in Roman schools, it is more than likely that his works, or sections, were used as textbooks… He can be looked upon as the prose counterpart of Vergil in Golden Age Latin literature.’