Originally published in 1930, this book examines a few of the early Roman writers in their response to their own environment.Originally published in 1930, this book grew out of a series of lectures given by the renowned classicist Tenney Frank which attempted to 'visualize a few of the early Roman writers in their response to the desires and demands of their own environment'. An introductory preface and textual notes are also included.Originally published in 1930, this book grew out of a series of lectures given by the renowned classicist Tenney Frank which attempted to 'visualize a few of the early Roman writers in their response to the desires and demands of their own environment'. An introductory preface and textual notes are also included.Tenney Frank (18761939) was a renowned classicist and scholar of the ancient world. Originally published in 1930, this book grew out of a series of lectures given by Frank which attempted to 'visualize a few of the early Roman writers in their response to the desires and demands of their own environment'. An introductory preface and textual notes are also included. This is a highly readable book that will be of value to anyone with an interest in the culture and society of Ancient Rome.Preface; 1. Introduction: social forces; 2. Early tragedy and epic; 3. Greek comedy on the Roman stage; 4. Terence and his successors; 5. The prose of the Roman statesmen; 6. Republican historiography and Livy; 7. Cicero's response to experience; 8. Lucretius and his readers.