I, Claudius

Through the voice of Graves, Claudius, or even better, Tiberius Caludius Drusus Nero Germanicus, later Emperor of Rome, tells us his story, a story of precarious survival in a world of intrigue, betrayal, lies and dangerous madmen (and madwomen). Sickly, limp, deaf in one ear, and stammering, Claudius is right from his birth a shy, timorous and diminished boy. In consequence, almost everybody believes him to be hopelessly stupid. Everybody rejects him, except his beloved older brother Germanicus and his friend Postumus, but even these treat him only as their poor protege. His parents tend to his needs, but nothing else. His grandmother Livia, the most fascinating character in the book, despises and hates him. All the rest simply mock or ignore him.Claudius, with his peculiar and acid sense of humor, tells us the story beginning two generations before his birth. At the end of the Civil War provoked by Julius Ceasar, Augustus (originally Octavian) attains victory and installs him as de-facto Emperor of Rome (it would be centuries later that the pretensions of Republican institutions would be officially disappeared). Livia, a woman sick with ambition and lust for power, divorces Claudius's grandfather and marries Augustus. Thus begins a story of centralization of power, of poisonings and blackmailing, of a power-behind-the-throne which makes Lady Macbeth look like an innocent school girl. Livia is a portent: she possesses incredible political and administrative skills, and she becomes the perfect partner of the noble, capable, but sometimes naive Augustus, who consults with her every matter. Augustus plays good cop: he is honest and magnanimous, the friendly face of the regime. Livia does all the dirty work, with dedication and efficiency. For a moment, the Empire ceases its expansionist efforts, and the resources are dedicated to consolidation of frontiers and to the strengthening of infrastructure and administrative apparatus. A spirit of sacrifice and service prevails. Heroes abound, remarkably Drusus, Claudius's father, and then Germanicus, the older brother and true Hero of Rome. Both men preserve ideas about Republican restoration, something they will pay dearly for.While many things are passing, Claudius grows up silently in the shadow. Little by little, some people (his two friends, his two servants and his two teachers) discover that the family fool is in fact a clever, observant, just and gentle guy. But no one else notices, which is exactly what saves his life, since no one envies him or feels he is a threat.When he is thirteen, still living in Rome, Claudius falls in love with an angelical creature, his soulmate, to whom he is promised in marriage. I won't spoil for you what happens the day of the wedding, but suffice it to say that his subsequent married life will be horrible.During the following years, Claudius retires to live at his villa in Capua, where his only company are some faithful servants and the two successive prostitutes who become his only true friends. After Augustus's death, the obscure Tiberius raises to the throne. Tiberius is a capable politician, soldier and administrator, but he is also a sexual degenerate, a puppet in the hands of his mother Livia, who progressively becomes a paranoid murderer and an intolerable tyrant. Tiberius's years are for Claudius a time of great intellectual achievements (he is an historian and writer), as well as a time of a personal nightmare, for one by one his loved ones are murdered by Tiberius and Livia. Then Tiberius's debacle sets in and he is succeeded by Caligula. Claudius's nephew and Livia's grand-grandson (Livia finally dies at age 86) begins his reign as a benevolent and generous ruler. But one day, after a month of sickness, Caligula sends for Claudius and tells him the real truth: He is God, more powerful than Jupiter. What follows, horrible but fun to read, is the crazed story of a living Devil. Dispend, negligence, murder, degenerate orgies and almost the ruin of the Empire, until the furious masses kill Caligula and crown the ultimate survivor, the only capable man left alive but who, alas, doesn't want to be Emperor.Thus finishes the first part of Claudius's life, masterfully told by a Classicist, poet and narrator of the first order. This is one of the bloodiest and cruellest books you'll ever going to read, but it is extremely entertaining, illuminating and solid.

INTRO: Entertaining AND EducationalI, CLAVDIVS (Romans did not have the letter U) by Robert Graves manages to fulfill for me my two objectives for reading this wonderful novel: (1) entertainment and (2) education. The novel is written from the perspective of CLAVDIVS, and it provides a fascinating exploration of the beginnings of the Roman Empire.GRIPPING SCENESSome of the scenes in the novels are gripping (and historically accurate!). In particular, I enjoyed the part when TIBERIVS is reading a letter from his brother DRVSVS that is critical of LIVIA and Emperor AVGVSTVS. TIBERIVS is forced to read the letter out loud. Another part that stands out is when Emperor CALIGVLA is undergoing his metamorphosis from a mere mortal to a god. Some characters are hilarious such as CLAVDIVS'S wife VRGVLANILLA.COMPELLING CHARACTERSSpeaking of characters, I left this novel with a deep respect for GERMANICVS (brother of CLAVDIVS and father of CALIGVLA). Another gripping portion of the novel is when GERMANICVS'S palace is being haunted with unlucky signs "scrawled on the walls in charcoal." Worse, dead animals and "the corpse of a baby, the belly painted red and horns tied to the forehead" beneath loose tiles. These occurred immediately prior to his unfortunate death.Another character worth mentioning of course is CALIGVLA. He stuffed the body of the tallest man in the world, an eleven-foot Parthian, and dressed him in armor to display him outside his bed-chamber door to frighten off assassins. He would dress as different gods depending upon his whims and possessed an incomprehensible wickedness. To suggest CALIGULA was mad would be a remarkable understatement. He was demonic, cruel, and psychotic.Let me briefly, then, discuss our Emperor, CLAVDIVS. CLAVDIVS the lame, the stutter, the idiot. Well, his character teaches us never to underestimate someone based upon some sort of defect (inability to speak well, limp, physical handicap). He was a historian and scholar. An enjoyable part of the novel is when he was in the Apollo Library and the historians LIVY and POLLIO come along. An interesting conversation emerges on historical writing and the difference between readability and accuracy. Should we prefer reading history that is less accurate but poetic or history that is written with diligence and correctly records events?ROMAN v. GERMANThe novel teaches a great deal of the difference between the German warring tribes and the discipline of the Roman legions. The Roman military was extraordinarily disciplined, yet floggings and paying soldiers were considered base by the Germans. The Germans, however, would promise glory and plunder to inspire their troops. The Germans were "chaste in their morals" while Roman officers "openly practiced vices." It was very interesting to learn about the loss of the eagles and the battle between VARVS and HERMANN (ARMINIVS). The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest resulted in the loss of three Roman legions.CONCLUSIONYour perspective of LIVIA, the Roman Empire, and the Roman people will forever change by reading this novel. You will learn history, (corrupt) politics, complex characters and be entertained while you are learning.Five stars are warranted. Suggestion: Read Anthony Everitt's CICERO prior to reading this to place the novel in historical context of the late Roman Republic and certainly obtain a Julio-Claudian family tree.

Wow, what an unexpected amazing read ! My husband recommended this one the other day to me - at first, it doesn't sound like the most interesting read. I mean historical novels are hard to bring to life and never been my thing really - I prefer non-fiction or history books in these cases. But wow! The first sentence got me completely hooked:"I, Tiberius Claudius [...], who was once, and not so long ago either, known to my friends and relatives and associates as 'Claudius, the Idiot', or 'That Claudius', or ' Claudius, the Stammerer', or' Clau-Clau-Claudius' or at best as 'Poor Uncle Claudius', am now to write the strange history of my life"and I didn't put it down for the next three days. I just ordered the sequel and can't wait.I don't want to give away too much - I think it's best the way I did, simply order it and read a page or two. What an amazing feat of imagination Graves had ! It's just stunningly good.So sorry for the lack of content, but just read it. You won't regret it.

A detailed look at the reign of three increasingly deranged emperors of imperial Rome told through the eyes of a fourth.The book has dated somewhat - both far too much detail and not enough. The book dwells on intricate family links that have very limited impact on the main story which makes for stodgy readings but just hints at the debauchery of the emperors. I guess that when this was written, whatever, for example, Tiberius got up to may not have made it past the censor. But, in these more enlightened days we are exposed to this stuff (across various media); it's a big missing hole in the story.Overall a very good read though.

I can't see what so many people find to enjoy about this book. I understand that it is not reliable history and yet it barely works as fiction. The characters are one-dimensional, locations very sketchily drawn and the narrative is simply an endless succession of betrayals, murders, marriages and divorces. I didn't care what happened to any of the characters - in fact, after a while, it becomes clear that you can anticipate what will happen to nearly all of them - and it won't be a natural death.Finishing it was a matter of application rather than enjoyment.

I have read this book so many times and then passed it on to friends as it is such a great read. This time I bought 2 copies so that hopefully I can keep one.This book is part fiction part historical fact, some of which is compiled from original texts and diaries of the time. And Robert Graves, the author and poet, is seriously one of the greatest writers of our time going back several generations. Everyone should read this book at least once and then pass it on.The book is also a great study of human psychology and of how success can be achieved in a way that turns current concepts on their head. And it is easy to see how current, recent or future leaders also use, or have used, the Claudius effect to win attain their positions.

I Claudius is a work of recreated autobiography, telling the life story of a reluctant Roman emperor. This is a compelling read, starting in the relatively sunny days of the rule of jovial Augustus – Claudius’s grandfather - where we meet the young Claudius, a shy boy with a limp, a stutter and a love of reading, writing and history. We then follow our hero through the increasingly cruel reign of Tiberius, into the demented period under Caligula. He survives, not through strength and aggression, but because everyone thinks him a harmless fool. Then finally, following Caligula’s assassination, a terrified Claudius, stuttering his reluctance, finds himself hoisted shoulder high and proclaimed emperor himself.This book is a reflection on what history actually is – a record of past events, a story built out of past events, and the use of the past to bolster the narrow interests of the present. It’s also a book about politics, with much to tell us about our own times. One of the characteristics of the benign period under Augustus, for example, is “freedom of the press” – a reluctance to punish writers or comedians who make the emperor the butt of their criticism or jokes. The modern world should take note.Above all, I loved the ending. Claudius was primarily a writer, and if you were a writer who finds himself becoming emperor against your will, what would go through your mind? Robert Graves, another writer, realises you would be thinking, “ah well, at least I can get people to read my books now.” I would be thinking the same.