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A review by christopherc
I, Claudius by Robert Graves
5.0
I, CLAUDIUS is a remarkable novel. Charting the early years of the Roman Empire and Claudius' unexpected elevation to the throne, I, CLAUDIUS animatedly protrays characters which in the historical record seem flat and sketchy. Livia Augusta, as a reviewer below mentioned, is a vicious and terrifying antagonist for many of the characters, and Graves truly gives her life.
Although it admittedly does take about 100 pages to really get started, Robert Graves' smooth prose flows well. Upon reaching the last years of Tiberius and the wacky reign of the totally insane Caligula, the reader is gripped by the story. Claudius himself remains a bit of a mystery, a passive observer who wisely stays out of much of the action (saving his life) but who always keeps an objective and historian-minded viewpoint.
Even if one does not know much about the history of Rome, this novel is still as entertaining as it is for the classics major. I would recommend I, CLAUDIUS to anyone.
Although it admittedly does take about 100 pages to really get started, Robert Graves' smooth prose flows well. Upon reaching the last years of Tiberius and the wacky reign of the totally insane Caligula, the reader is gripped by the story. Claudius himself remains a bit of a mystery, a passive observer who wisely stays out of much of the action (saving his life) but who always keeps an objective and historian-minded viewpoint.
Even if one does not know much about the history of Rome, this novel is still as entertaining as it is for the classics major. I would recommend I, CLAUDIUS to anyone.