The History of Roman Literature From the Earliest Period to the Death of Marcus Aurelius

"The History of Roman Literature" by Charles Thomas Cruttwell is a historical exploration of Roman writings from their humble beginnings to the era of Marcus Aurelius. Aimed at students and readers with a general curiosity, it acts as a map through Rome’s literary heritage, highlighting Greek impacts and the growth of different writing styles. The book starts by setting the scene, explaining how early Rome didn't have much poetry because Romans were practical and focused on usefulness over art, which meant less literature until they met Greek culture. Cruttwell breaks down Roman literature into periods, pointing out that even though Rome had some basic poems and plays, its literary golden age truly took off when Romans began to absorb Greek literary ideas, laying the groundwork for a closer look at Roman writers and how their work changed from practical writing to a more complex and developed literary world.