prose. At the start of this volume, the author discusses the stark contrast between the literary cultures of early Rome and Greece, emphasizing the initially dominant role of poetry over prose in both civilizations. It highlights influential figures such as Cato and Varro, along with their contributions to agriculture, oratory, and prose literature. Dunlop provides a rich backdrop of socio-political influences on literary developments, outlining the significance of agrarian life in shaping the literary traditions and values of the early Romans. The opening portion sets the stage for an exploration of how these elements intertwine with the evolution of Roman literature as the narrative progresses. (This is an automatically generated summary.)