The period covered by Sallust's Histories - 78-67 BC - forms part of the less well-documented eras of the late Republic. Sallust's contribution, despite its fragmentary transmission (about five hundred fragments of narrative, four speeches, and two letters preserved intact), remains of major importance to ancient historians. For nearly a century, scholars have consulted the edition of B. Maurenbrecher (1891-3) - a work, for its time, of considerable merit. Continuing research on the period has produced material with a bearing on the interpretation of the text; in addition, several fragments not known to Maurenbrecher have subsequently been discovered. For this new translation, Dr McGushin has freshly revised Maurenbrecher's placement and ordering of the fragments, and incorporated this newly discovered material. Together with a comprehensive introduction, he also provides a detailed interpretation in the first ever full-length commentary on the work.

Sallust (86-35 BC) was a historian of major importance, writing at the time of the late Roman Republic. This is the first ever full-length commentary and English translation of one of his major works, the Histories, covering the years 78-67 BC, one of the least well-documented periods of the era. The translation is based on a text freshly examined for the first time since the original edition of 1891-3, and also includes newly discovered material.

This series is designed for the increasing number of readers who approach the authors of the ancient world with little or no knowledge of Latin or Greek, or even, in some cases, of the Classical World. Commentaries have long been available for those who read the authors in the original language; the series provides similar material for those reading them in particular, readily available, translations, especially students of Classical Cvilization/ Studies at GCSE, A-level and University, the core of whose courses is the study of ancient literature in translation. Students of Ancient History should also find useful the commentary on some of their source materials.Each volume in the series will include the following: an introduction to the author and his work, with reference to scholarly views; a commentary providing explanation of detail, historical background, and a discussion of difficult or key passages; periodic summaries of situation or content; bilbliography, glossaries, maps and illustrations where relevant.