Valentina Arena is Lecturer in Roman History at University College London. Her work focuses mainly on two interlinked lines of investigation: the study of Roman oratory and rhetorical techniques and the analysis of Roman political thought and its relationship with the practice of politics. On both areas and the relationship with one another she has written a series of studies, culminating in this, her first book. She is currently working on the notion of popular sovereignty (as part of an AHRC-funded project) and is part of the Academic Board of the ERC-funded project to write a new, updated edition of the Fragmentary Orators of the Roman Republic (Malcovati's first edition). She is also a member of the editorial board of Tulliana and has advised the BBC and other broadcasters on television programmes and documentaries on ancient Rome.

'[This] book makes an important contribution to the elucidation of a concept central to Roman political culture; it, and its political role in the period in question, are analysed comprehensively, learnedly and with a good theoretical underpinning (ancient and modern). This study is an impressive accomplishment and will from now on be an important point of reference in all discussions on Roman libertas.' Alexander Yakobson, The Journal of Roman Studies

• 1. Roman libertas; 2. The citizens' political liberty; 3. The liberty of the commonwealth; 4. The political struggle in the first century BC; 5. Political response and the need for legitimacy; Epilogue.

Valentina Arena is Lecturer in Roman History at University College London. Her work focuses mainly on two interlinked lines of investigation: the study of Roman oratory and rhetorical techniques and the analysis of Roman political thought and its relationship with the practice of politics. On both areas and the relationship with one another she has written a series of studies, culminating in this, her first book. She is currently working on the notion of popular sovereignty (as part of an AHRC-funded project) and is part of the Academic Board of the ERC-funded project to write a new, updated edition of the Fragmentary Orators of the Roman Republic (Malcovati's first edition). She is also a member of the editorial board of Tulliana and has advised the BBC and other broadcasters on television programmes and documentaries on ancient Rome.

'[This] book makes an important contribution to the elucidation of a concept central to Roman political culture; it, and its political role in the period in question, are analysed comprehensively, learnedly and with a good theoretical underpinning (ancient and modern). This study is an impressive accomplishment and will from now on be an important point of reference in all discussions on Roman libertas.' Alexander Yakobson, The Journal of Roman Studies

• 1. Roman libertas; 2. The citizens' political liberty; 3. The liberty of the commonwealth; 4. The political struggle in the first century BC; 5. Political response and the need for legitimacy; Epilogue.

Valentina Arena is Lecturer in Roman History at University College London. Her work focuses mainly on two interlinked lines of investigation: the study of Roman oratory and rhetorical techniques and the analysis of Roman political thought and its relationship with the practice of politics. On both areas and the relationship with one another she has written a series of studies, culminating in this, her first book. She is currently working on the notion of popular sovereignty (as part of an AHRC-funded project) and is part of the Academic Board of the ERC-funded project to write a new, updated edition of the Fragmentary Orators of the Roman Republic (Malcovati's first edition). She is also a member of the editorial board of Tulliana and has advised the BBC and other broadcasters on television programmes and documentaries on ancient Rome.

'[This] book makes an important contribution to the elucidation of a concept central to Roman political culture; it, and its political role in the period in question, are analysed comprehensively, learnedly and with a good theoretical underpinning (ancient and modern). This study is an impressive accomplishment and will from now on be an important point of reference in all discussions on Roman libertas.' Alexander Yakobson, The Journal of Roman Studies

• 1. Roman libertas; 2. The citizens' political liberty; 3. The liberty of the commonwealth; 4. The political struggle in the first century BC; 5. Political response and the need for legitimacy; Epilogue.