The first volume of Professor Woodman's edition of, and commentary on,
Velleius Paterculus was published in the Cambridge Classical Texts and
Commentaries series in 1977. This is the second volume to appear,
covering Velleius' narrative of Julius Caesar and Augustus, down to 19
B.C. Velleius' history was first published in A. D. 30 and is being
increasingly regarded as an important source for Roman history.
Professor Woodman's aims have been the same as in his first volume: to
establish the text, or at least to indicate where it is unreliable, and
to explain the nature and meaning of the narrative. Thus his commentary
is primarily textual, linguistic and stylistic, to be used by those who
want to read Velleius, whether their interests are literary,
historiographical or historical. It is the first commentary of its scale
and scope since the beginning of the nineteenth century.