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33rd out of 3,151 books
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13,808 voters
I, Claudius (Claudius #1)
From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius, Born 10 B.C., Murdered and Deified A.D. 54:
Considered an idiot because of his physical infirmities, Claudius survived the intrigues and poisonings of the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, and the Mad Caligula to become emperor in 41 A.D. Historical novel set in 1st-century-AD Rome by Robert Graves, published in 1934. The book is wri...more
Considered an idiot because of his physical infirmities, Claudius survived the intrigues and poisonings of the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, and the Mad Caligula to become emperor in 41 A.D. Historical novel set in 1st-century-AD Rome by Robert Graves, published in 1934. The book is wri...more
Paperback, 468 pages
Published
October 23rd 1989
by Vintage
(first published 1934)
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I Claudius reviewed by Manny :
- Claudius, come here, sit down right by me, don't be shy.
- O o o o o oh, M-m-m-m-m-
- Yes?
- essalina!
I Claudius reviewed by Mariel :
All i can dream about is rabbits every day. every day rabbits. i can't tell you why.
I Claudius reviewed by Ian Graye :
You've seen The Sopranos, so you think you know about gangsters.
But Imperial Rome didn't get its reputation by organising knitting circles.
No, it didn't.
Claudius became emperor accidentally. They found him cowering in a...more
- Claudius, come here, sit down right by me, don't be shy.
- O o o o o oh, M-m-m-m-m-
- Yes?
- essalina!
I Claudius reviewed by Mariel :
All i can dream about is rabbits every day. every day rabbits. i can't tell you why.
I Claudius reviewed by Ian Graye :
You've seen The Sopranos, so you think you know about gangsters.
But Imperial Rome didn't get its reputation by organising knitting circles.
No, it didn't.
Claudius became emperor accidentally. They found him cowering in a...more
[Cross-posted on my blog, but with pretty pictures!]
I decided that I had to read I, Claudius as soon as possible because of Brian Blessed.
I was watching a documentary about the famous BBC miniseries based on the book (which I desperately want to watch) and saw Mr. Blessed -- one of my favorite people to ever exist, who should really be a "Sir Blessed" -- discuss his reaction to being offered the role of Augustus: he basically (I am paraphrasing) went "oh no, I can't see myself as Augustus... ma...more
I decided that I had to read I, Claudius as soon as possible because of Brian Blessed.
I was watching a documentary about the famous BBC miniseries based on the book (which I desperately want to watch) and saw Mr. Blessed -- one of my favorite people to ever exist, who should really be a "Sir Blessed" -- discuss his reaction to being offered the role of Augustus: he basically (I am paraphrasing) went "oh no, I can't see myself as Augustus... ma...more
16 likes · like · see review
This stuttering, doddering, somewhat foolish Roman monarch, whose reign was nestled between that of the brutally murdered madman Caligula and the suicide-selecting megalomaniac Nero, owes much of the public's actual awareness of his rule to Graves' inspired fictional memoirs. Growing up either ignored or despised in the sprawling court of Augustus Caesar, Claudius is re-imagined as a scholastic boy with a sharp mind who suffered a dearth of confidence and lacked for any opportunity that would al...more
Yo, Claudio
The review I really have in mind will be attempted for this book only after I finish reading Claudius the God (to quench the burning curiosity of how this ‘Clau-Clau-Claudius’, a man, who in the first shock of being made emperor had this outrageous thought come rushing to his mind - "So, I'm Emperor, am I? What nonsense! But at least I'll be able to make people read my books now.”, will conduct himself as a God-Emperor), The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire and Rubicon: The Last Y...more
19 likes · like · see review
Jul 17, 2012
Sarah
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those interested in the real Hunger Games
Poor Clau-Clau-Claudius. He stuttered, had a limp, and was deaf in one ear. Considered the family idiot, he had the misfortune to be born into a family that suffered from a congenital lack of compassion.
Robert Graves’s choice of the hapless Claudius as the narrator for this work of historical fiction was ingenious. Seen as dull-witted and harmless by his ruthless relatives, Claudius managed to avoid (view spoiler) the poisoning, banishment, starvation, stabbing, and suici...more
Robert Graves’s choice of the hapless Claudius as the narrator for this work of historical fiction was ingenious. Seen as dull-witted and harmless by his ruthless relatives, Claudius managed to avoid (view spoiler) the poisoning, banishment, starvation, stabbing, and suici...more
26 likes · like · see review
Things had to have been boring in ancient Rome with no TV, internet or video games. But after reading I, Claudius, I think that the average Roman citizen’s chief entertainment probably came from watching what the imperial family did to each other. There was the crime and intrigue of a show like The Sopranos. All the narcissism and betrayal of a season of a reality TV show. More sex than cable on-demand porn channels and enough family dysfunction to make Jerry Springer’s guests look classy. You...more
30 likes · like · see review
As we're to spend a couple of nights in Rome over New Year's Eve, I thought I'd get in the mood by picking up again - having read it ten to fifteen years ago - Robert Graves's account of the reign of Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula. I remember liking it enough then to have sought out and read the sequel, "Claudius the God" - unfortunately my fondness for this novel hasn't accrued with intervening years. Not that there is anything particularly terrible about the book; it's historical subject matt...more
Best book I'd read in years. I, Claudius is a brilliantly written piece of historical fiction from the perspective of a hapless-yet-intelligent black sheep of the Julio-Claudian house during the Augustan era of the Roman Empire who stumbles his way through to survive the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, and Caligula only to be made emperor himself.
At times hilarious, others disturbing, very interesting all the way through, Robert Graves wrote a masterpiece with this. I challenge anyone to read 'I,...more
At times hilarious, others disturbing, very interesting all the way through, Robert Graves wrote a masterpiece with this. I challenge anyone to read 'I,...more
17 likes · like · see review
This thing is basically 'The Wire' in togas. It has much of the complex plotting, political positioning, warring and double crossing of that show, with a bit of incest and poisoning thrown in for good measure. A lot of poisoning actually. If the amount of poisoning in this book is at all historically accurate, then the Romans must have experienced the same abject terror sitting down to every meal, which we in modern life are thankfully now only exposed to when faced with no option but to use a K...more
Wow! What an amazing book. Emperor Claudius tells the story of his own unlikely rise to Roman emperor, succeeding the evil and insane Caligula (who succeeded Tiberius who succeeded Augustus). Of course, Claudius didn't really write this book, but the author convincingly fools readers into imagining otherwise.
This was the first book about the Roman empire that I have ever read. It is exactly the kind of historical fiction that I enjoy and appreciate -- one in which every character is a real histo...more
This was the first book about the Roman empire that I have ever read. It is exactly the kind of historical fiction that I enjoy and appreciate -- one in which every character is a real histo...more
2 likes · like · see review
I, Claudius is a fictitious autobiographical account of the life of Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Pretty cool name, huh?). The novel begins with the fateful stabbing of Julius Caesar and culminates with Claudius’s rise to power as Emperor of Rome. Everything inbetween is an eye opening account of first century politics and the consequences of unchallenged imperial power.
In our opinion, Robert Graves created a wonderfully unique voice in Claudius. The main character is the poster...more
In our opinion, Robert Graves created a wonderfully unique voice in Claudius. The main character is the poster...more
I read this over the course of three weeks and blogged about it along with several other writers. (The Big Read II) That kind of slow, reflective read is perfect for this book. There are many historical characters to keep track of, and just who is going to be poisoned by whom.
Julius Caesar is merely the backstory, the real story here is about a sickly cripple that manages not to get assassinated before he becomes the Emperor at the ripe old age of 50 something. (That is not a spoiler...we learn...more
Julius Caesar is merely the backstory, the real story here is about a sickly cripple that manages not to get assassinated before he becomes the Emperor at the ripe old age of 50 something. (That is not a spoiler...we learn...more
If you think your family is bad, wait till you see what Emperor "Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus This-that-and-the-other" had to put up with! This historical novel is written from the point of view of Claudius, a stammering, lame, benign man who is taken for a fool by everyone who knows him (which happens to works in his favour). Claudius starts his tale with the reign of Augustus and ends the book with his own ascension to power. There is a sequel to the book called "The God Claudius"...more
Hmm. I'm not entirely sure if I liked this, or if I didn't. I mean, on the one hand, the prose style read plausibly as a translation from the classical Latin, much of the research was accurate, and I really liked Graves' take on Claudius himself. On the other hand, I thought his Augustus was incredibly off - whatever else the man was, he was incredibly intelligent, and I think Graves really underestimated him - and I would have quibbles with some of the rest of the characterisation as well.
Some...more
Some...more
I read this book because my co-worker said it was like watching The Sopranos; it's all about the family, there's murder, conspiracy, adultery... I'll admit, with the amount of young adult novels I read, the text was a little slow going at first. It reminded me of One Hundred Years of Solitudein that there's a lot of establishment of family characters. Once I got the hang of the family tree, it was a fascinating read. Although fictional, it is based on Roman history. Having recently traveled to G...more
3-1/2 stars, if I could.
Finished! I'm glad I'm raising kids in Bountiful and not 1st C. Rome.
A funny result of reading this book: it has inspired me to get back into gathering my parent's histories.
Read The Family: a Proclamation to the World regarding women and families and then p. 94, "... as a rule any good looking woman nowadays could have any man to sleep with whom she chose." If she "tired" of her husband, it was a hastle and financially distressing to get rid of him. Being married just me...more
Finished! I'm glad I'm raising kids in Bountiful and not 1st C. Rome.
A funny result of reading this book: it has inspired me to get back into gathering my parent's histories.
Read The Family: a Proclamation to the World regarding women and families and then p. 94, "... as a rule any good looking woman nowadays could have any man to sleep with whom she chose." If she "tired" of her husband, it was a hastle and financially distressing to get rid of him. Being married just me...more
3 likes · like · see review
I just could not get into the I, Claudius mini series but the book took me back to a Rome so unpredictable and strange that I doubt if I could have survived. Claudius survives bloody Rome and its mad, vindictive leaders by hiding beneath his limp, stammer and the image his family and acquaintances have cast upon him. The butt of jokes everywhere, he buries himself in nonpolitical historical research and writes books about what he discovers while his friends and family members are murdered and/or...more
Mar 13, 2008
Belinda
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those who wish a deeper understanding of roman history
Recommended to Belinda by:
Badger
I cannot recommend this book too highly. My introduction to it was the famous BBC series staring Derek Jacobi, after which I was compelled to read Graves' books to fill in all the juicy details. Graves felt there was a new Roman story to be told w/Claudius, the "idiot" who managed to do much more than most of his foolish relations---until he too demonstrated himself a fool. This telling of Roman history is deliciously wicked, as are most of its characters, but then you somehow find yourself in l...more
Easily my favorite historical novel. Graves creates a sympathetic character in Claudius, remembered by Roman historians as a physically and developmentally disabled emperor, but now recognized as an able leader who overcame many obstacles and setbacks in his reign.
Graves claimed that the ghost of Claudius appeared to him and demanded that his story be set straight. This book (and a sequel I haven't read, Claudius the God) gives a cynical, unflattering, but realistic portrait of the first emperor...more
Graves claimed that the ghost of Claudius appeared to him and demanded that his story be set straight. This book (and a sequel I haven't read, Claudius the God) gives a cynical, unflattering, but realistic portrait of the first emperor...more
I, Claudius is one of my favoritest books of all time. Since I just finished watching Rome: Season 1 on DVD, I figured I'd re-read the book that picks up where it left off. Now, I have the tail end of Season 2 to help me visualize Graves first few chapters - although there's definitely some conflicts between his work and the HBO series. I haven't re-read this book in forever, not since leaving my own copy in a West Texas motel room in 1999, so I pounced on the copy in my local library. I may hav...more
Very enjoyable. It was difficult not to read this as fact, it reminded me so much of the histories I read in Classical Studies. Plus 'Claudius' writes in such unemotional manner about his own family (real historical figures) that it feels more like an honest account than a half-fiction. Reading up later I found Graves was pretty selective with his sources, as one might be when trying to construct an exciting and believable narrative. The result is a page-turner.
Saying that, I don't think it's fo...more
Saying that, I don't think it's fo...more
Most people know this book from the excellent 1976 BBC/PBS/"Masterpiece Theater" mini-series starring Derek Jacobi in the title role as the crippled, stuttering, disregarded Roman noble who would survive to become Emperor, not despite his disadvantages, but because of them.
The book itself -- which passed to its sequel at the time when Claudius finds himself chosen Emperor -- is something of an odd beast, more of a personal history / diary / historical narrative than what we would think of as a...more
The book itself -- which passed to its sequel at the time when Claudius finds himself chosen Emperor -- is something of an odd beast, more of a personal history / diary / historical narrative than what we would think of as a...more
From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius, Born 10 B.C., Murdered and Deified A.D. 54:
Considered an idiot because of his physical infirmities, Claudius survived the intrigues and poisonings of the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, and the Mad Caligula to become emperor in 41 A.D. Historical novel set in 1st-century-AD Rome by Robert Graves, published in 1934. The book is written as an autobiographical memoir by Roman emperor Claudius. Physically weak, afflicted with stammering, and inclined to dro
As far as historical fiction, especially regarding the Roman empire, goes, this is the creme de le creme. Robert Graves renders the era with a sense of realism and humanity that is often lacking in other works set in this period of history. The power-struggles, eccentricities and flaws of the first Roman emperors is laid bare here, warts and all.
This work is not without flaw, it is only human. To some readers, especially those less historically inclined, or those less curious/knowledgeable abo...more
This work is not without flaw, it is only human. To some readers, especially those less historically inclined, or those less curious/knowledgeable abo...more
Embora seja um leitor compulsivo de romances históricos, até à data não havia lido nenhum que tivesse como "cenário" o império romano e, o pouco que sei desse Grande Império é devido a programas de História que vão passando nos nossos canais por cabo. Assim e a conselho duma ilustre livriana, lancei-me na aventura de ler "Eu, Cláudio", livro escrito em 1941 por Robert Graves.
"Eu, Cláudio" relata 82 anos da História do Império Romano (41 a.c. a 41 d.c.). Toda a narrativa é nos contada na primeira...more
"Eu, Cláudio" relata 82 anos da História do Império Romano (41 a.c. a 41 d.c.). Toda a narrativa é nos contada na primeira...more
The BBC adaptation of "I, Claudius" with Derek Jakobi and Patrick Stewart as Sejanus got my hooked on Roman history, Claudius as a man and Robert Graves the author.
After watching the series in the early 90's (BBC first aired in 1976) I bought the book and dived into the mind of Claudius. The book is a first person narrative by Claudius himself. Having survived the rule of Caligula and, before him, Tiberius, Claudius was installed by the Praetorian Guard because he was seen as easily manipulated...more
After watching the series in the early 90's (BBC first aired in 1976) I bought the book and dived into the mind of Claudius. The book is a first person narrative by Claudius himself. Having survived the rule of Caligula and, before him, Tiberius, Claudius was installed by the Praetorian Guard because he was seen as easily manipulated...more
Ten years, fifty days and three, Clau-Clau-Clau shall given be A gift that all desire but he. To a fawning fellowship he shall stammer, cluck and trip, Dribbling always with his lip. But when he's dumb and no more here, Nineteen hundred years or near, Clau-Clau-Claudius shall speak clear.
With this prophecy from the sibyl of Cumae begins the story of Claudius, an obscure prince of the Julio-Claudian line. Ridiculed for his speech impediment, compared to a monkey and assumed to be an idiot, he end...more
An amazing tour de force, both as a book and as the BBC mini-series. On the surface, Claudius became emperor of Rome almost by accident, or "by default." Other reviewers have commented on the egomaniacal, cut-throat (literally) politics and family back-stabbing, so ... enough said. All indications are that Graves' portrayal of those times in Roman history was not far off the mark, with perhaps some bits for dramatic effect.
But through all that, Claudius puttered along until -- surprise! -- he wa...more
But through all that, Claudius puttered along until -- surprise! -- he wa...more
An excellent historical novel and one that will make all readers thankful they did not live in ancient Rome, at least among the privileged upper crust! In short, there seems to have been poison in almost every cup and cliffs fairly close at hand from which those in disfavor could be promptly thrown. I don't know how accurate all this is, although a friend has told me that I only need read Suetonius to know where Graves found all his material. Haven't done that yet, since this book has already gi...more
I, Claudius really surprised me. I enjoy almost all historical novels, and picked this one up assuming it would be an interesting if slow recap of Rome in the years after the death of Augustus. That was dispelled in the introduction chapter as ‘Claudius’ introduces himself and sets the quick, mocking tone for his ‘autobiography’. The whole book is written in the first person by Claudius, a slightly deformed stutterer with a drooling problem, who is destined to become the 3rd emperor of Rome afte...more
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| You'll love this ...: April 2013 - I, Claudius Discussion | 36 | 40 | May 09, 2013 01:50pm | |
| A ver... | 2 | 63 | Nov 12, 2011 09:56am |
Robert Ranke Graves, born in Wimbledon, received his early education at King's College School and Copthorne Prep School, Wimbledon & Charterhouse School and won a scholarship to St John's College, Oxford. While at Charterhouse in 1912, he fell in love with G. H. Johnstone, a boy of fourteen ("Dick" in Goodbye to All That) When challenged by the headmaster he defended himself by citing Plato, G...more
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“I was thinking, "So, I’m Emperor, am I? What nonsense! But at least I'll be able to make people read my books now.”
—
12 people liked it
“And what thoughts or memories, would you guess, were passing through my mind on this extraordinary occasion? Was I thinking of the Sibyl's prophecy, of the omen of the wolf-cub, of Pollio's advice, or of Briseis's dream? Of my grandfather and liberty? Of my grandfather and liberty? Of my three Imperial predecessors, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, their lives and deaths? Of the great danger I was still in from the conspirators, and from the Senate, and from the Gaurds battalions at the Camp? Of Messalina and our unborn child? Of my grandmother Livia and my promise to deify her if I ever became Emperor? Of Postumus and Germanicus? Of Agrippina and Nero? Of Camilla? No, you would never guess what was passing through my mind. But I shall be frank and tell you what it was, though the confession is a shameful one. I was thinking, 'So, I'm Emperor, am I? What nonsense! But at least I'll be able to make people read my books now. Public recitals to large audiences. And good books too, thirty-five years' hard work in them. It wont be unfair. Pollio used to get attentive audiences by giving expensive dinners. He was a very sound historian, and the last of the Romans. My history of Carthage is full of amusing anecdotes. I'm sure that they'll enjoy it.”
—
5 people liked it
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