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    I, Claudius: From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius Born 10 B.C. Murdered and Deified A.D. 54
    I, Claudius: From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius Born 10 B.C. Murdered and Deified A.D. 54
    I, Claudius: From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius Born 10 B.C. Murdered and Deified A.D. 54
    Audiobook16 hours

    I, Claudius: From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius Born 10 B.C. Murdered and Deified A.D. 54

    Written by Robert Graves

    Narrated by Nelson Runger

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJul 31, 2007
    ISBN9781436112239
    I, Claudius: From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius Born 10 B.C. Murdered and Deified A.D. 54
    Author

    Robert Graves

    Robert Graves (Indianapolis, IN) is the owner of Fox Hollow Farm. Since learning of the farm’s past, Robert has devoted himself to understanding the tragic events that took place there.

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    Reviews for I, Claudius

    4.5/5

    1,960 ratings82 reviews

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    • 4/5
      What a story! What a lot of heads rolling! What intrigues! All this takes place around the time of Jesus being born, but I guess they didn't know about that in Rome.
      Claudius was the stammering, lame grandson of Livia, Emperor Augustus' wife. Made fun of by practically everyone in the imperial family, he was a historian and smarter than most of the characters in this drama.
      I'll be reading volume 2 soon, just to find out more about this fascinating character.
    • 3/5
      Extremely interesting historical novel of the Emperor Claudius of Rome, He was succeeded by Nero. Originally written in 1934.
    • 4/5
      This novel, written in the form of an autobiography, recounts in brief the history of the Roman Empire from Julius through Augustus, and in much greater detail from Tiberius to the initial succession of Claudius. The narrator recounts the various deeds of the Caesars as well as the most important moments of his life. Claudius was born with a limp and a stammer and never expected to become emperor - nor even to survive during some of the bloodier reigns. He was too weak to be involved in martial activities, so he focused on reading the histories and eventually kept himself busy by writing them. As he grew up, he became skilled in survival and learned to navigate the court and Rome by using all his wits to appear dumb and foolish. Eventually, he is proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard after the assassination of Caligula.This book is not exactly a page turner. Much of it takes the form of a dry history, recounting events dispassionately. The record of various conquests can be especially tedious to get through. However, I truly enjoyed any time the narrative focused on political intrigue and various assassination plots. Everyone was poisoning everyone back then. Ultimately, this is what kept me reading to the end.
    • 5/5
      Wonderful narration!
      Can’t wait to listen to the sequel…
      Thanks for doing this,
    • 4/5
      One of the giants in the field, Robert Graves' artful stitching of Tacitus and Suetonius' accounts of the life of the Fourth Roman emperor, reads well, and holds up today. Lacking some of the more immediate details of domestic life, and the remarkable numbers of suicides and outright assassinations, this is a clear portrait of the narrator, and most especially of his remarkably vicious grandmother, Livia the wife of Augustus. The choice of the life of the studious Julio-Claudian, allowed Graves to avoid going into the details which may appeal to the modern taste for bedroom scenes and gritty sword fights. Read it to discover the "high road" of historical imagination, and, because it is a hard book to stop once you start.
    • 3/5
      Graves' scholarship comes through very clearly in this work, and he takes meticulous care in the detail with which he addresses the intrigues of Rome. In that respect, it reminded me strongly of Pride and Prejudice--but the pacing was more like a summary of a longer work. The sections in which he characterized Claudius were strongest, but my taste for those is likely a symptom of being used to modern narratives. The tone was reminiscent here and there of Caesar, of Herodotus, and in language, he used a hybridization technique, with very little Latin. It was a useful technique to make Claudius into a historian, and the reader could clearly see where his biases and prejudices affected his opinions on things. An interesting work to read alongside historical fiction theory articles.
    • 5/5
      Claudius, fourth Emperor of Rome, is said to have composed an autobiography now lost to history. In the 1930s a cash-strapped Robert Graves decided to try filling in this blank with a two-volume fictional work. In this first volume, he has Claudius describe the rule of the first three Emperors, all of whom he knew during his lifetime. It is as wonderful a companion to Tacitus' Annals as I had hoped. It fills in the story of Augustus which Tacitus spent little time on, and clarifies the crimes of Tiberias (whom I'd found at least somewhat sympathetic, but not at all now). Tacitus' coverage of Caligula has been lost but it's all here. I doubt whether Graves selected Claudius as his narrator so much for the purpose of redeeming his image (although in this first volume at least he certainly does that), as much as because he could tell the story of the early Roman Empire from an ideal point of view. This fictional memoir approach makes it comparable to Yourcenar's account of Hadrian. This is not as dense, but both heavily rely on telling more than showing, and feature an enormous amount of detailed family relationships, military maneuvers and political machinations. They differ in two significant respects. For one, Robert Graves waxes more poetic than Yourcenar - literally, in his recounting of invented prophecies, quoting from Homer, etc. Secondly, Graves in particular is a wizard at completing our knowledge of events beyond what's recorded. I was too often forgetting that I was reading fiction, wondering in surprise about some astonishing fact before I had to remember that it wasn't (necessarily) how events actually occurred. Graves writes a very plausible and often exciting story, one that makes an enormous villain out of Livia and a victim out of Julia, swaps Postumus with his impersonator, attributes definitive blame for various deaths, and does various other tricks. I picked up on a few of these thanks to other reading (e.g. Tacitus) and by referring to the internet, but I'm sure I missed a few gems. An annotated edition of this novel would be brilliant, if it could cite through endnotes which parts of the narrative can be found in contemporary sources and which appear to be invented.I would suggest that nothing Graves speculated is entirely implausible. He adheres to the known history, and what makes this so fascinating is that quite possibly he's guessed right on all counts. Who can say now?
    • 5/5
      I received this book as a gift, and I wasn't aware that it was first published in 1934 until I opened it up to read it. Like any true classic, the book is unforgettable. The language is incomparable, the descriptions are incredible and the characterization is second-to-none. The book is written is the first person and it appears to be written by Emporer Claudius himself. It is not an easy book to read. Graves knew his subject so well, and described everything so realistically, that all the atrocities, murder, rampant lawlessness and mayhem felt like I was reading this in a newspaper in the present day. The book covers the time from 10 BC to 64 AD. This time frame is when Rome saw four emperors - the Great Augustus, the slippery Tiberius, the raving lunatic Caligula, and finally, at the end, sensible, quiet Claudius. It does not cover Claudius' reign, but his life up to that moment is brought to life in vivid detail. Graves packs so much into these pages. We see the depravity, the lawlessness, the cruelty and all the pomp and circumstance through the eyes of the lame stammerer Claudius It is hard to believe that this is a fiction book. It is almost impossible to believe that it isn't Claudius' autobiography because the book is so real. Fascinating stuff here, and a very thorough history lesson of Ancient Rome. It was a great way for me to spend a few days in late October as the days are getting shorter and cooler. I do admit that I need to read something a little lighter now. That should get the ghosts of the Roman past out of my brain where they have been residing while I was reading this classic. I highly recommend this book to any history lovers interested in ancient civilizations.
    • 3/5
      When released in 1934 it was a reimagined and groundbreaking way to present Roman history, with a historical figure narrating his own tale. While Claudius is the narrator, from the beginning the story has an almost total focus on Livia as the grand mover behind everything in the Julio-Claudian family, including directing all of Augustus' actions. While this view does draw on the available historical evidence, it's a rather narrow view when seen through 21st century eyes.Abridged audiobook (2007 CSA Word version) read by Derek Jacobi:The book is read well by Derek Jacobi, who is very familiar with the story having played the role of Claudius on both television and radio.This is an older style of audiobook where musical interludes are inserted as chapter breaks. The musical interlude is from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, which makes it an additionally anachronistic interruption.
    • 2/5
      I've tried this more than once over the years, and each time I get a little farther, but it's more grim determination than enjoyment. It's an admirable achievement of its kind, and Claudius is a likable narrator and guide, explaining patiently the complexities, backstabbing, plotting, manipulation, and cold-blooded murders of kith and kin... but it *is* explaining and describing, and it just never quite comes to life enough to engage me. Oh well. Too many books, too little time.
    • 5/5
      I, Claudius is an utterly unputdownable historical fiction about Imperial Ancient Rome in all its political gore and glory. Packed with political machinations and scheming straight from the (fictional) autobiography written by Roman Emperor Claudius, the famed The Idiot/Roman mythology's Vulcan, this novel is engrossingly twisty and sneaky. More than a telling of his life and his absurdly incidental nomination to power—with a feign of stupidity used as one of his advantages—this also covers Augustus, Tiberius, and Caligula's reign. To say the manipulations and betrayals are driven by personal interests alone is only dust on the surface. The insistence of these plots necessary for the good of the Roman Empire reexamines the characters' actions and decisions. Graves' I, Claudius has no pause for any dry or dull moment either; everything is written in exact humour and wit. And due to the superb quality of the novel, there are times when its historical inaccuracies become incontestable and difficult to separate from the historical truths of one of the most sweeping and influential civilisations of humankind. Sumptuously controversial and pleasurably conniving, how there is brutality, horror, and greed in such an advance culture also absolutely magnifies society's glaring regressions and stagnancies. And by god, it's not in any way shocking at all but still a note to take: the senators then haven't got a hair's width of difference with the senators of today. You kind of wish we still have the Stairs of Mourning.
    • 3/5
      At a certain point it became unreadable for me. I made it 1/5th of the book, and I thought the book should have been renamed, 'Livia is the Devil'. I just got tired of it. There wasn't a moment when Livia wasn't doing something evil. "These demonstrations expressed not so much pity for Julia as hostility to Livia, who everyone justly blamed for the severity of Julia's exile and for so playing on Augustus' pride that he could not allow himself to relent." I get it! She's bad! Move on!
    • 1/5
      Very difficult to read
    • 4/5
      The beginning chapters were rather tedious, and my eyes began crossing with all of the names thrown at me. It was even more confusing than the Plantagenet family tree. In the end I could not put the book down. Caligula's presence in the last chapters was great fun.
    • 4/5
      Extremely readable and very convincing. You find yourself just assuming yes, of course, it happened just this way.Though a genealogy in the back would have been helpful...
    • 5/5
      Truly loved this one; in fact I often think about Mark who selected this one. He - Mark - not Claudius - has since retreated into his home, swalllowed in a thicket on the way to Charlestown. He worries about the grid collapsing as any sane person should. He also worries about surveillance from the Feds: sigh.

      Graves situates C dramatically with aplomb, the decorum and debauchery vie in this rairified air. Everyone is terrified of the rabble. C is a patient man. This is an asset. He also lives in fortunate times and knows when to act.
    • 5/5
      This was a re-read, as I first read it many years ago and loved it. I have a predilection for historical fiction and this one is excellent.

      It is written in the form of an autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius and includes the period between Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC to Caligula’s assassination in 41 AD. It is well written, clever and entertaining. Highly recommended if you enjoy historical fiction. It’s a great one.
    • 5/5
      Fantastic piece of historical fiction. Very entertaining and witty. I look forward to reading it's sequel.
    • 5/5
      I have three absolute top favorite books of all time. This is Number One, with a bullet. This historical fiction novel of ancient Rome has it all: murder, family dysfunction, regicide, incest, gossip, debauchery, loyalty, love, lust, deceit, good intentions gone awry, good people, very, very bad people, and just about anything else you could possibly want in a novel.

      Robert Graves tells the story of the unlikely Roman Emperor Tiberius Claudius and how he came to be ruler of the vast Roman Empire. This novel takes us from the earliest beginnings of his life in the Claudian dynasty, up to "that fateful point of change," when apparently by the sheer dumb luck of having outlived his relatives, he ascends to the throne.
    • 3/5
      This was fun, but not particularly subtle. Nor did I gain insights into the Roman Empire by reading it. I did just finish reading a couple of non-fiction works on the Roman Empire, so I may have been a little more knowledgeable than the average reader. But the intrigue and violence did keep my attention.
    • 5/5
      I've been going through my library and reclassifying my collection... In the process I realized that I hadn't reviewed this book. This was a grave mistake on my part (pun intended)!I am an avid reader and am always hesitant to call any book my "favorite", but if someone held me at gunpoint and forced me to make a choice, it would be I, Claudius.Not only is the narration fantastic, but so is the narrator himself (the soon to be Emperor Claudius), the language, the interpretation of history... I could go on and on, but you'll never know until you read it for yourself. Please, do yourself a favor and pick this one up! But, be warned! It may lead to a lifelong obsession with Rome, Romans, and Masterpiece Theatre... And a desperate longing for Robert Graves works that don't exist.
    • 1/5
      I read this for a group read of a Historical Fiction group on Leafmarks, and I gotta say, it's got me beat. I figured it would take 2 months instead of the scheduled one month to read it, but it just. kept. going. on. And I kept trying to keep up with the characters, who was married to whom, who was killed by Augustus' wife Livia, how they were all related, but really, after a while, I just stopped caring. I bought it in the early 90's and made it most of the way through it, but this time, I'm sending it off through BookCrossing to find another home.
    • 5/5
      Superb fictional history of the first four Roman Emperors, as told by the fourth, Claudius, who was long thought to be a half-wit. The basis for the first part of the Masterpiece Theater series starring Derek Jacobi. Followed by the sequel, Claudius The God.
    • 4/5
      “I was thinking, "So, I’m Emperor, am I? What nonsense! But at least I'll be able to make people read my books now.”Those of us of a certain age will have at least heard of if not watched the wonderful 1976 adaptation of this book which is the first of two chronicling how Claudius, the limping, stuttering grandson of Caesar Augustus outlived all of his contemporaries to become Emperor. He is a sly, even bitchy, observer of the events of the time, of the bloodlusts and hubris of the Roman empire.A member of a ruthless and murderous imperial family, he survives because he seems the least consequential twig of the family tree. This was a time when a cruel and debauched ruling class, in whom hysteria and madness were never far below the surface.Much of the earlier part of the novel revolves around the evil machinations of Livia, third wife of Augustus, her lust for power at any cost, her aim to have her son Tiberius succeed as emperor and so rule through him. Tiberius when he comes to the throne rules by fear and revels in debauchery but it is not until he is succeeded by Caligula (who was surely not as insane as the author will have us believe) that the fun really begins. This section of the book with its excesses was for me the most enjoyable, so much so I was almost sorry when he was assassinated. However, this also show Graves's real sense of irony as the narrative moves rapidly from the brutal killing of the crazed Caligula, who firmly believes he is divine even while his limbs are being hacked off, to the aftermath with the German bodyguards clamouring for vengeance on the killers, to the discovery of the terrified Claudius hiding behind a curtain, and his acclamation as the new emperor. The scrambled killing, the disordered movement as the Guards search out the conspirators, the grotesque comedy of the trembling Claudius borne aloft, represent together a sustained triumph of narrative.I found this a little slow to get going but once it did I found it a very enjoyable read and as such say that it is well worth sticking with. On to Claudius the God next.
    • 4/5
      It's interesting to me that younger reviewers are relating this book to the "Rome" TV series. I first read this years ago when PBS televised the BBC miniseries of this book and its sequel "Claudius the God". I have returned to this book after finding the DVD of that series at a flea market. This is a very dense book with dozens of important characters, some of whom share names, or variants of the same name, common in Rome among members of the same family. Since most of the important characters are all Claudians that's to be expected. But if you can immerse yourself in the manners morals politics and belief systems of 2 millennia past you are in for a wonderful ride.
    • 4/5
      I guess I didn't realize until now that I was into this sort of thing. I guess my infatuation with the romance of "non-Western" history kind of alienated me from Roman stuff. I'm really enjoying this book so far, though. Fuck, I manage to enthusiastically follow battle scenes, even. Considering the huge cast of characters, I think I'm keeping up pretty well and at a good pace. More on this later for sure.
    • 4/5
      I thought this book was very fun, indeed, the episodes of Rome falling into disgrace are charming. I hope to read Claudius the God in the near future. I am glad that this was on the modern library list.
    • 5/5
      I loved, loved, loved this book! Claudius, grandnephew of Augustus Caesar, a stutterer, a gimp, thought to be an idiot--tells his story, and that of his grandmother Livia (Augustus Caesar's last wife) and granduncle Augustus Ceasar, as well as his uncle Tiberius Caesar's and his nephew Caligula's lives and reigns. And what an amazing, horrific, exciting, unbelievable story it is. Modern-day politics and scandals are nothing compared to Rome in all its glory. I vaguely remember (I was in high school then) that there was a PBS series based on "I, Claudius" starring Derek Jacobi during the 1970s. I would love to see this series, and see what the makers of the series "Rome" would do with this novel in the present.
    • 4/5
      A good balance of historical fiction and action, with a misunderstood historian-emperor at its center. Claudius, lame and a stutterer, naturally retreats to his books, but this is where some of the best character building shines through (especially the two scenes with Livy). The contrast with Caligula couldn't be more extreme, and it is amazing to think than anything resembling this ever really happened.
    • 5/5
      I liked this book because the author seemed to understand what it was like to be a reluctant Caesar in Roman times. So this book appealed to me because I understand what it would be like to be an absolute leader.

      Robert Graves is a superlative writer and can really turn a phrase when he had to.

      As usual, I listened to a reading of this book from Audible.com. The reader did a terrific job of portraying the characters and the lisp Claudius had (but without disturbing the listener).