imyerhero's review
3.0
I’ll admit, I couldn’t really get into this book until the last 100 or so pages. I just couldn’t be interested with all the bloodshed and debauchery and intrigues. When one person died I figured another person worse would take their place; or if a truly good character was introduced all I thought was “well, they’re toast.” However, Livia absolutely disgusted me. I can’t imagine how someone could slowly poison their own children and grandchildren. Claudius himself stirred a little sympathy in me – mostly because of how he was ignored by everyone in his family – although that saved his life. She was only outdone by Caligula – but the book didn’t go into as much detail about his atrocities. I found I could only laugh at him (mostly because of World Thought and Culture class in college). I’m interested to read the second book of Claudius, but I think I might put it off for a while.`
rawleyloftus's review
challenging
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
huddycleve's review
funny
reflective
relaxing
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
sampreater's review
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A wonderful sympathetic account of an often despised Emperor. Probably the most accessible way to approach the history of the early Roman empire.
gnandini's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
4.0
sheae's review against another edition
5.0
I, Claudius is a stunning work of historical fiction. It follows the life of Claudius - the grandson of Livia who was married to Caesar Augustus - before he becomes emperor of Rome himself. The writing is dense but fast-paced. The book is narrated from the perspective of Claudius, whose life is a combination of sheer luck, dark humor, and clever wit. I really can't praise the book enough. For me, it is a gold standard when it comes to historical fiction. If you enjoy history (Roman especially!) or just a drama to rival Game of Thrones, this book is for you!
23149014345613's review
4.0
Pairs nicely with the Schiff account of Cleopatra's life that I finished a few months back. This book removes the distance from the writer and the subject, though, purporting to be the autobiography of Tiberius Claudius. The cover art and the confusion about who was really writing sort of psyched me up for something more farcical and subversive (a la Tristam Shandy), so I spent the first hundred pages or so sort of confused by the tone and not sure how truthful were the facts being relayed. I also neglected to look up when Graves lived or when the book was written, so I wasn't sure how modern the book was (again, based on the cover art, it seems blisteringly so). This is not the text's fault, just a case of a reader not doing basic research before starting, and a warning about adding things to your to-read list and then forgetting why 2 years later.
This is ultimately, as far as I can tell, a factual account of Claudius's life, with meat added to the bones to create something coherent, accessible, sympathetic, and loaded with juicy palace gossip. I assume it is accurate because the names and places often get dull and confusing, the way Roman stuff always does. But I skimmed through any sections that seemed bogged down in minutiae, knowing I'm not going to be tested on this material, and ultimately found many stories of classical wit, intrigue, idealism and treachery that felt very true to the times and very interesting still to modern readers. I won't be continuing the story of Claudius, but I'm glad I picked this one up. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a history of Rome without having to wade into source texts and learn ancient Greek. The autobiography trick, while another layer obscuring the history laid down in the work, makes it an easy entry point for readers more accustomed to novels than dry textbooks.
This is ultimately, as far as I can tell, a factual account of Claudius's life, with meat added to the bones to create something coherent, accessible, sympathetic, and loaded with juicy palace gossip. I assume it is accurate because the names and places often get dull and confusing, the way Roman stuff always does. But I skimmed through any sections that seemed bogged down in minutiae, knowing I'm not going to be tested on this material, and ultimately found many stories of classical wit, intrigue, idealism and treachery that felt very true to the times and very interesting still to modern readers. I won't be continuing the story of Claudius, but I'm glad I picked this one up. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a history of Rome without having to wade into source texts and learn ancient Greek. The autobiography trick, while another layer obscuring the history laid down in the work, makes it an easy entry point for readers more accustomed to novels than dry textbooks.
sarahrussell's review
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0