I Claudius

Robert Graves
TBD Publisher, TBD Year
BZ's Private Library, TBD Library Call Number
TBD ISBN
Link to Book: Wikipedia
Rating:
Date Reviewed: May2007
Reviewed By: Foo
Comments:
A fictional first-person account of Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus, also known as "Claudius the Idiot", "Claudius the Stammerer", "Clau-Clau-Claudius", or as "Poor Uncle Claudius". Claudius is the grandson of Augustus (or was it Octavius?) Caesar, and was born with a lisp, a limp, and a stammer, thus the family's perception of him as an idiot. He does actually have a brain, and though he has no desire for power, he eventually becomes emperor of Rome by being one of the few survivors in a very murderous family. Mostly he survived by playing along, or feigning stupidity, thus seeming not threatening, or unworthy of assassination.

From his vantage point we get a first person's account of 4 emperors of Rome. The most disastrous reign is that of Caligula, Claudius' nephew, who was such a bad ruler that he was deposed in favor of Claudius the idiot. Among other things Caligula talked of having his horse made consul to the Senate.

Did I like it? Yes. I'm a bit of an amateur (not immature) historian (I only enjoy reading it, not writing), and have read the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, enjoying in thoroughly. It was fun to have this personal, albeit fictional, account (I Claudius) of an ancient historical period that I had read about. It does make it more interesting.

The shame of all this? Claudius was actually an accomplished historian, and had written his autobiography in eight volumes. We know it existed, but is now lost, most likely in the destruction of the Library at Alexandria (reviewer's speculation).