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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.912
EAN: 9780679724773
ISBN: 067972477X
Label: Vintage
Manufacturer: Vintage
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 468
Publication Date: 1989-10-23
Publisher: Vintage
Product Release Date: 1989-10-23
Studio: Vintage

Having never seen the famous 1970s television series based on Graves' historical novel of ancient Rome and being generally uneducated about matters both ancient and Roman, I wasn't prepared for such an engaging book. But it's a ripping good read, this fictional autobiography set in the Roman Empire's days of glory and decadence. As a history lesson, it's fabulous; as a novel it's also wonderful. Best is Claudius himself, the stutterer who let everyone think he was an idiot (to avoid getting poisoned) but who reveals himself in the narrative to be a wry and likable observer. His story continues in Claudius the God.

Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Totally awesome
Review: "I Claudius" was the first book that convinced me that history could be engrossing. Ridiculously fun to read - it delivers a thrill on a level with the first time you saw "The Mikado", heard the Saint-Saens cello concerto, Callas singing 'Casta Diva'. You get the picture.

It is a stroke of genius for Graves to choose Claudius, the drooling 'halfwit' among the Caesars, overlooked and ridiculed by his more ambitious relatives, as his mouthpiece. In a voice that is irresistibly gossipy and remarkably shrewd, he draws us in and makes the history completely and spellbindingly real. It's a stunning accomplishment.

This book, its sequel, and the extraordinary BBC adaptation for television, are high on the list of life's great pleasures.

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Mad But Interesting
Review: There's not much I can say here or desire to say here that hasn't been covered by the other reviewers. Just to reiterate though: The character of Livia, as presented here in Graves's novel, is NOT based on any sound scholarship, new or otherwise. It's true that she COULD have poisoned her way to power as depicted here. But bear in mind that Claudius himself COULD have just as well done so himself, with this first person narration serving as a cover up. - Be it remembered that Claudius (the actual emperor) did write an actual first person Autobiography, now lost to us. - Who knows what ulterior motives he might have harboured in doing so? In any event, altogether too many untimely deaths of all sorts pile up to attribute to any one person. It also seems clear to me that Graves, in describing the Germans, was certainly drawing a parallel to the Germans he fought against in WWI.

But, laying historical accuracy to one side, this is a clever and interesting read. It is not, to my mind, the masterpiece some reviewers here make it out to be. But I enjoyed it. The impression one has on closing the book and reflecting on the murders, mayhem and madness that occur on almost every page leaves one feeling about the book as Claudius felt about the last, ebrious conversation he had with Livia:

"The conversation was like the sort one has in dreams - mad but interesting."

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Not that impressed
Review: I hate to be the one bad apple in the bunch, but to be honest, I was expecting great things from this book given all of the fabulous reviews. Perhaps because I've been pampered with books like Philippa Greggory's THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL or THE RED TENT, I expected a read that would be quick, with snappy dialogue and luscious settings. What I got instead was something that felt very much dated, and very boring. Of course, this is just my opinion, and I see that many others here have different ones. But for fans of Greggory-style writing, I would give this a pass.

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A special place for this book on my library shelves
Review: This book is a gem and is on my top-10 list of all-time favorites.

The subject of Roman Empire, and its culture, and its vast history, is huge and I am grateful when a couple of books by Robert Graves comes along. Roman history lives. It gives me a better handle on those times, even if imagined. Despite the fictionality of I, Claudius, I am drawn by its overt narrative and general historical accuracy and so what if Graves has a tendency to follow sources selectively from the Lyon Tablet to Suetonius. The fact that the real Claudius was a trained historian and was known to have written an autobiography consisting of eight books that were lost, that covered the same time period, is also good enough for me, and lends extra value to this story. Who knows how close Robert Graves has penetrated to the truth of the matter? What makes any fine work of fiction magical is the unique perspective of a talented writer like Graves. I am also drawn by the themes in this book, the conflict between liberty and stability of empire, the delicate balance between Republican liberty and Imperial stability which leads me to draw, mostly imagined, parallels with the United States today and its delicate balance.

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Unbelievable Book!
Review: While you read this book, you will be so completely shocked, uphauled, and disgustingly intrigued by it. I have always been interested in the Ancient Roman Empire, and known only the basics about it. I could not put this book down! I feel like half the time I was reading it, my mouth was just dropped to the floor. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone, whether you are interested in the Roman Empire or not. I was genuinely upset when I finished reading the book, I just didn't want it to end! You will immediately become infatuated while reading this stunning novel!

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