The narrative artistry of Polybius has received relatively little scholarly attention. Critics
have tended to discuss his reflections on the various issues presented in his work or to use
him as a source of valuable information about the historical period that he records. This
volume which draws on narratology s analytical tools focuses instead on the narrative of the
Histories exploring the sophisticated narrative techniques that have gone into shaping it. In
doing so it pays particular attention to the ways the formal aspects of the text contribute to
promoting Polybius thematic concerns. Its aim is not only to present the Histories as the work
of an author who has taken pains to provide us with a carefully structured story but also to
illustrate how interpretations of this story can be enriched by a sensitivity to factors such
as chronological displacements and variations of focalization.
