Plutarch
 

I am listening to Plutarch's Roman Lives and in the one about Coriolanus (recall I am listening so I have no idea how to spell this stuff) He talks about the voskians (or somethign liek that). WHo are these people? I assume they are a tribe on the peninsula? ANd are the Latins something apart from or a larger group of than Romans?

The Volsci
 

The Volsci were an Italic people who lived southeast of Rome, and often attacked the Romans throughout the sixth and fifth centuries until Rome and its allies defeated them in 431. Although the Volsci maintained sporadic enmity towards Rome throughout the fourth century, defeats in the Latin War and the second Samnite war led to their Romanization and assimilation.

The Latins were an ethnic group, united by language, culture, mythology, and custom, that lived on the Italian peninsula. Rome was just one Latin settlement, and these small states often fought one another. Eventually, Rome became powerful enough to subsume the other Latin entities, and later mentions of cities or colonies with "Latin" rights or status meant only that these places had special relationships with the big city.

Kudos to you for giving Plutarch a shot. He's my favorite ancient author.

Excellent, I was hoping someone would help me out. Thanks. Plutarch is a very good writer, and when read by someone with a mellifluous voice and an English accent, is actually very accessible. Moreover, the stories are pretty interesting. I listen in the car. Makes the commute and other drives go by very quickly and, like a nice gelato, cleanses the palate of my mind after a day at work.