"Republication of David Lowenthal''s elegant translation of Montesquieu''s neglected study of the Romans--an indispensable source for understanding the philosopher''s treatment of Rome in The Spirit of the Laws--makes the book available to a new generation of English-language readers.

Lowenthal''s perceptive introduction and useful notes also deserve the attention of those who can read Montesquieu in the original French." --James W. Muller, University of Alaska, Anchorage