Robert Graves
Paperback | Pages: 468 pages Rating: 4.27 | 50844 Users | 2390 Reviews
Particularize About Books I, Claudius (Claudius #1)
| Title | : | I, Claudius (Claudius #1) |
| Author | : | Robert Graves |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 468 pages |
| Published | : | October 23rd 1989 by Vintage (first published 1934) |
| Categories | : | Travel. Nonfiction. Humor. Autobiography. Memoir |
Relation During Books I, Claudius (Claudius #1)
Into the 'autobiography' of Clau-Clau-Claudius, the pitiful stammerer who was destined to become Emperor in spite of himself, Graves packs the everlasting intrigues, the depravity, the bloody purges and mounting cruelty of the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius, soon to culminate in the deified insanity of Caligula.I, Claudius and its sequel, Claudius the God, are among the most celebrated, as well the most gripping historical novels ever written.
Cover illustration: Brian Pike
Itemize Books In Pursuance Of I, Claudius (Claudius #1)
| Original Title: | I, Claudius |
| ISBN: | 067972477X (ISBN13: 9780679724773) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Series: | Claudius #1 |
| Characters: | Nero (emperor), Caligula, Livia Drusa, Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus, Agrippina the Elder, Tiberius Claudius Caesar, Augustus, Valeria Messalina |
| Setting: | Rome(Italy) Italy Roman Empire |
| Literary Awards: | James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction (1934), Hawthornden Prize (1935), Audie Award for Audio Drama (2012) |
Rating About Books I, Claudius (Claudius #1)
Ratings: 4.27 From 50844 Users | 2390 ReviewsJudge About Books I, Claudius (Claudius #1)
This was fun reading! It reminded me of the 'A Song of Fire and Ice' series. Claudius, is a stammering lame fellow whose disabilities and weaknesses bring him both mockery and his salvation in a family plagued with scheming, deceit, betrayal, poisoning, the lust for power and the like. The humour and action in the book makes it a great page turner and Livia has become one of my favourite villains of all time.In 1977 (oh my, how time flies), Masterpiece Theater presented a BBC production of I, Claudius. The production included the events of both of Graves Claudius novels and featured a cast that would include some of the best actors of the century, among them Derek Jacobi, an unforgettable Claudius. After watching it, I read Robert Graves novel from which its name was derived, but never got around to the second half of the story, Claudius the God. Fast forward to today, and I am at last revisiting
Game of RomesHistory is the lie of the victors. Or so thats what they say. But in the case of I, Claudius hailed as one of the best pieces of historical fiction written to date, the so-called lie is either heightened or degraded, depends on how you see it, into a dramatic tale of cunning, deceit, depravity and the glories of ancient Rome chalked with enough back-stabbing, affairs, incest, assassinations, and debauchery youd doubt whether youve unearthed an ancient tabloid. Granted there are
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
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 citizens 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 Springers guests look classy. You
Robert Graves' classic I, Claudius is a masterpiece of historical fiction about the stuttering, lame unlikely emperor Claudius ending just as he mounts the imperial throne (one must read Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina for the rest - high on my TBR now). It is a mesmerizing text detailing the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula with all the accompanying betrayals, violence and sexual exploits that you would expect from a particularly gruesome early episode in the Game of Thrones.
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