I, Claudius

De: Robert Graves

Narrado por: Nelson Runger

Here is one of the best historical novels ever written. Lame, stammering Claudius, once a major embarrassment to the imperial family and now emperor of Rome, writes an eyewitness account of the reign of the first four Caesars: the noble Augustus and his cunning wife, Livia; the reptilian Tiberius; the monstrous Caligula; and finally old Claudius himself and his wife, Messalina. Filled with poisonings, betrayal, and shocking excesses, I Claudius is history that rivals the most exciting contemporary fiction.©1934, 1961 Robert Graves (P)1987 Recorded Books

History really?

I am far from being an historian, and my knowledge of Roman history is at best scanty. And yet I caught a few things that made me jump, which of course makes me wonder about everything else... For one thing Graves keeps referring to "France" and "Italy". These are gross anachronisms. He undoubtedly knew better, and may have found it easier to call these regions of the Empire by their modern day names. But I hate that dumbification of history, even in an historic novel. Another inaccuracy (and this time I do have a bit of knowledge in the matter): he keeps referring to "paper". There is no paper in Europe before the 10th century. The Romans had parchment (animal skin) and papyrus as writing supports. I assume he sloppily calls papyrus "paper". But papyrus is NOT paper. His usage of the the word "book" is a bit questionable too. Claudius didn't write on a what we now consider as a book ie a codex (with pages that are sewn together and can be flipped) but rather on scrolls.
Having said all that, if one can stand the darkness and gore of the time period, which has nothing to do with Graves, it is a good read. I found that considering the sadistic bend of some of his main protagonists, especially Caligula, Graves remained pretty discreet and didn't indulge in easy unsavory imagery, for which I was immensely grateful.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book

I felt like I learned an immense amount about ancient classical figures whose names I had known but couldn't have told you much else about them. In addition, I was entertained, engrossed, and even horrified (by the how violent their world was). I'd recommend it if you like history and/or historical fiction (this isn't fiction, but it reads like it). The reader was very good.

Compelling and Masterful Tale

This is a gripping tale of suspense and intrigue about the lives of the first Roman Emperors. Told from the perspective of the fourth emperor - Claudius - this historical fiction is a spectacular review of Roman history described in contemporary terms.

Every since Robert Graves first published this in 1961, it has been considered one of the best historical fictions. I remember rushing back home every Sunday in the 1980's to watch the BBC/PBS version that was being broadcast. I have a copy of the book and the TV series, but listening to this copy of the book reminded me just how much I enjoyed the story. Mr. Graves was a talented story teller, and from the beginning you are drawn completely into his historical world.

The narration is wonderful, and I highly recommend this as worth anyone's time. And don't forget the second half of the story - Claudius, The God

Read the book

I loved the original book and the television miniseries based on it. I fully expected to love the audiobook. But somehow I've had this for over a year without managing to finish it.

This is really the sort of book to read yourself, either on paper or ebook. It's just too difficult to back up a few pages to refresh yourself on where you left off, and impossible to go back and look up the previous references to a person or event.

Excellent!!

This book is first-rate. Robert Graves did an amazing job. Essentially, it is about the time of Rome from Augustus to Tiberius to Caligula, just after Julius Caesar, like 40 BC to AD 40, approximately. At the end, Claudius becomes the reluctant Emperor when Caligula is assassinated. The last 80 pages or so are about Caligula. This is some of the funniest stuff I've ever read. I was dying with laughter as Mr. Graves wrote about Caligula's nonsense. In many ways, Caligula reminded me of Trump; or, at least, what Trump would have become if he could have become King of America. They say that Comedy is Tragedy plus Time. If you lived during the time of Caligula, you were horrified, of course. Today, though, Caligula's weirdness is hilarious. Maybe in 50 years, people will laugh at Trump's idiocy like we can laugh at Caligula's in this great book. Oh, also I discovered that "I, Claudius" was made into a TV series by the British Broadcasting Service. The great actor Derek Jacobi plays Claudius. I'm going to watch that now. There's like 12-15 episodes. Made in like the mid-70s. Good-luck, Audible People.

A Classic from a Classicist

Would you listen to I, Claudius again? Why?

I think it was C. S. Lewis who spoke frequently about measuring the success of a book by its ability to be enjoyably reread; something about sipping a good wine... In any case, this is certainly a tale I'd care to enjoy again.

Graves uses his long-established affinity with Antiquity to bring long-dead voices alive to the modern ear. The narrative woven with measured historicity and quasi-sensationalist intrigue leaves the reader, or listener, with a gorgeous tapestry that should be artfully admired again and again.

What does Nelson Runger bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Graves writes a history fit for Claudius' sometime mentor, Livy, to pore over, but Runger's conversation illuminates the tale for the contemporary listener.

Long live Claudius!

Game of Thrones has nothing on Ancient Rome, honestly. I watched the show that’s based on Robert Graves’s book in high school and I loved it! It hardly deviates from this book at all, though I will say the book isn’t nearly as graphic in places if you’re squeamish. Excellent, excellent example of good historical fiction. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in Rome or the Claudian dynasty. The narration was good! The narrator doesn’t really do voices, per say, and there isn’t a lot of dialogue anyway. Most of the time it was fine, but there were a FEW times where I wasn’t immediately sure who was speaking, but it didn’t keep me from enjoying the book.

a great listen

perfect for any category murder romance thriller and all read awesome. keeps you on your toes.

Substantial and Entertaining

I have been working my way through the 100 best Modern Classics. They are all good but this is also a “page turner”.

Shenanigans in Ancient Rome

Much more entertaining than I thought it would be going in--I mean, I should have known, right? Political intrigue, murder, forced suicide, voluntary suicide, torture, poison, banishment, war...those ancient Roman emperors kept themselves busy! I liked hearing the story from Claudius' point of view--I found him very likable, and the narration for the audiobook was great (other than a couple brief moments when he slipped into what sounded suspiciously like a Southern drawl). I assumed going in that, though I was interested enough to read this first book in the series, I wouldn't want to continue with it. But...I'm definitely considering it!