Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent but Troubling Book
Review: The term "historical fiction", when you think about it, is an oxymoron. And it's a genre that is by its very nature disturbing to those of us who like to believe that there's truth to be found in history, because it seems to toying with this truth. The incidents recounted in this particular book are based on historical sources that are, at best, fragmentary, and at worst biased in their own right, and these are in turn being overlaid by the imagination and literary license of a modern novelist. Yet the stories lodge themselves in your consciousness as real events because the writing is vivid and the characters, or at least the rough models for the characters, were historical personages. The other troubling thing here is the story itself, which is grotesque. If the Roman ruling class was really the vipers nest of casual murder, deceit and debauchery portrayed here, one wonders how they ever managed to sustain a complex empire for as long as they did. But the story, whether a fair historical representation or not, certainly gives testimony to Mr. Graves' literary skills. The book is highly engaging. Putting aside my reservations about the genre, I've already picked up a copy of the sequel, "Claudius the God" in which it would appear the story of the eccentric narrator accelerates into high gear. Hopefully, Mr. Graves hasn't fully succumbed to the temptations offered by so fertile a premise.
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Summary: Ancient Soap Opera: History as it REALLY was
Review: I, CLAUDIUS is a triumph in literature. It is the memoir of Claudius, the fourth emperor of Rome, who has to pretend that he's an idiot to keep from being murdered. Augustus' wife Livia is one of the most cold-blooded murderesses ever conceived. She banishes, forces to suicide, or poisons anyone who stands in the way of her plans for her son Toberius to succeed Augustus. Which is a lot of people. Livia thinks nothing of murdering her own husband in the end. Then cruel Tiberius becomes emperor and rejects Livia. She knows that mad Caligula, a murderer as well as you'll see, will be the next in line for the throne. It's pitiful as Livia lies on her death bed begging to become a goddess. A plethora of other wonderful subplots abound. This is a book filled with treachery, violence, murder, and a battle for power. Fantastic.
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Summary: Graves at his best
Review: If there is one book that I can reread with undimished pleasure it is I, Claudius. Graves has taken the scandalous, gossipy view of the Caesars presented by Suetonius and transformed it into a steamy, suspenseful, violent, hysterical melodrama which nevertheless manages to be thought provoking and deeply moving. The character of Claudius, the weak, limping, stuttering 'fool' of a Caesar, is a master portrait and one comes to love and appreciate his sly insight and his crafty mechanations to preserve his own life in a palace full of poisonings and treachery. His view of the other Caesars is insightful and entertaining. The story of Augustus is almost tragic while that of Tiberius is black comedy. Caligula is a horror story and Nero is somehow - perhaps because he spells Claudius's doom, horror itself.This is a very great book both as serious literature and as simple entertainment - a combination more rare than I would wish. And, if you don't like to read, check out the PBS series available on videotape. Certainly one of the best things ever on television. Derick Jacoby, in the defining role of his career, makes a wonderful Claudius and the rest of he cast, and the script, is supurb. Truely great stuff.
Rating:
Summary: An Ancient Soap Opera: A Very Guilty Pleasure
Review: Sex, violence, murder, intrigue....and it's not on TV weekday afternoons, it's all contained in this volume. I couldn't put it down. This isn't just the stuff of daytime TV, either, it's extremely well-written and very engaging. Claudius is the wise fool, with a nicely droll sense of humor and above all else, a good heart and a sense of justice. No wonder....ahh, but if I went on, I'd spoil it for you! Read it, buy it, you'll love it and you'll read it more than once. A sound investment for anyone's library - and a gripping novel, too.
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Summary: A highly worthy book
Review: This book shows that men are men no matter what time period they happen to exist in. The perversion and mockery of "Republican" ideals by the nobility of Rome and their abandonment of liberty for tyranny in the "best interests of the Empire" is uncomfortably similar to current American politics. Isn't it notable that the (Roman) Senate got away with the claim of representing the interests of the people? I couldn't help drawing some terrifying yet unavoidable parallels. And to note how the Roman public remained docile as long as their most basic necessities for sustaining life were somehow met (which sometimes they weren't) is an indicator of how bad things could conceivably get in our own country. I guess we're waiting for our own Nero. This is a wonderful book, and terribly short: It should be published along with _Claudius the God_ in a single volume. But even then I think I would have to read on elswhere to quench my thirst for even the most rudimentary and informal knowledge of Ancient Rome (not so Ancient when you put it into context).
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Summary: A work of inspiration: one of my favorite books
Review: First off, the book is very readable, so don't be intimidated. From there, I can only tell you what I personally gained from the reading: It changed how I view the nature of politics and power, and that just on the surface. Perhaps most poignant is the novel's investigation of progress, political change, and human history. I would go even further and say that, beyond history, and its telling, the idea of time itself, and how it relates to the human lifespan, is taken head-on (having an English degree, I know it's a big no-no to bring up such "big words," but in this case it is unavoidable), and violently at that. Someone once told me that the only thing all people have equal is twenty-four hours per day for one lifetime. This book has the power to make it understood what can be done with that kind of a gift
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Summary: wait a minute!
Review: This is one of the most accurate historical fictions ever! have you not read suetonius or tacitus? All the events are real! Robert Graves is not reperesented becuase he was not trying to write as himslef, as said in the introduction. Real life doesnt usually have a cut and dry plot, which is why most books dont follow their main characters for more than a short period
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Summary: ONE OF THE GREATEST I'VE EVER READ!!!
Review: Wow, was I ever surprised as all heck when this novel ended up being one of the greatest I've ever read. Not having too much background on Roman history, my preliminary thought was that I would be turned off after reading the first fifty pages. However, that thought was soon contradicted, and I found myself staying up an extra half hour every night just to see the following events. I, Claudius is, without a doubt, a masterpiece in historical fiction. Much like Lonesome Dove, it made me more open-minded towards different types of literature. It has its own intellecutal wit, superfluous yet absorbing description, and a great storyline. Graves does a superb job at expressing the bad people surrounding Claudius (Livia, Tiberius, Caligula) and the good (Postumus, Augustus, Germanicus). I'm sure this wasn't an easy novel for Graves to write and it's an example of extreme determination and research. Those reasons can be accountable for it being considered one of the greatest American novels of all time. However, there are certain aspects about it that some overlook. Take the character of Claudius. Though the customs and culture of Ancient Rome are far different than that of late 90's America, the position of Claudius is not. He is an outcast. People look towards him with disgust and make fun of his disabilities. He is barely given any chances and does not exactly have the greatest family life. Yet in the end, he does prevail as Emperor, even though he does not want to be. Let a teenager with tolerance and time read this novel, and most likely they will see how Claudius can relate to many others nowadays. Claudius, I believe, is one of the most dignified and respectable characters in literature. In spite of the harsh criticism, he remains resolute and loyal. I guess that's it. So I end with saying that this novel is a sure pleaser. HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I still have yet to read CLAUDIUS THE GOD.
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Summary: very addictive
Review: it happened that i started reading this book on the same day i bought the newest vergion of red alert(tibearien sun).for u who are familiar with this game u ought to know how much addictive it is.u start playing it in the morning and before u know it it's noon.unfortunatly in my case this senario is not the 1 that happened whenever i put the game in the CD drive my eyes deliberetly fell on the book...the result i finished reading it never played the game in fact thinking of selling it very cheaply i might add and now in the process of accumulating money to buy claudius the god. if u dont have much time in ur hands dont recomend u reading it.
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Summary: POSION IS QUEEN
Review: Murder, sex, death and the struggle for power... the Clinton Presidency? No... Rome. Fast paced, witty and rich in detail, I Claudius is the Summer reading of choice along the beaches of the Nile. If you've never seen the BBC series or even if you have, I Claudius will surprise you at every page. Highly recommended... if I had one bad thing to say about this book, it would be it's abrupt ending. There is no finish to this book, merely a cut off between Claudius, the family fool, to Claudius the God... which is continued in a second volume.
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