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natashasacks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
franklyfrank's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rheren's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting enough that I finished it, but not engrossing like some historical novels. You really end up just feeling sorry for Claudius throughout everything, and he's definitely not much of a heroic figure (not that it was a heroic time in Roman history, by anyone's standards). The "autobiography" feel continues, although this includes a strangely long section recounting the history of King Herod, of biblical fame, since he was a close associate of Claudius. I feel also like a lot of the book is Claudius justifying his actions to his detractors and trying to prove himself to posterity, but since that's actually still pretty "in-character" with it being an "autobiography" I guess it fits.
From a little external reading it seems like the book as a whole is pretty historically accurate, so I felt like I learned a lot, but it wasn't fascinating or gripping like I prefer historical fiction to be.
From a little external reading it seems like the book as a whole is pretty historically accurate, so I felt like I learned a lot, but it wasn't fascinating or gripping like I prefer historical fiction to be.
constance2705's review against another edition
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
kynan's review against another edition
4.0
Great, now I have to go and read some actual (ie non-fiction) Roman history to find out if I just learned something or if I just read through two books worth of Days or Our Lives, circa 41 AD.
I read [b:Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina|52251|Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina|Robert Graves|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170385969s/52251.jpg|4232163] and [b:I, Claudius|18765|I, Claudius|Robert Graves|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167094189s/18765.jpg|4232388] back to back as I really wanted to follow through to the end of the prophecy with which "I, Claudius" opens. Also, both the style and content of the books was extremely compelling and I really wanted to find out what happened next! The books content shows no sign of their publishing age (1934/1935), I guess because the referenced events are orders of magnitude older and there was no attempt to modernise the story, merely translate (OK, and perhaps add an element of excitement and intrigue).
I listened to these books, the Recorded Books version read by Nelson Runger. The performance was quite well done and I had no problems with it.
I read [b:Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina|52251|Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina|Robert Graves|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170385969s/52251.jpg|4232163] and [b:I, Claudius|18765|I, Claudius|Robert Graves|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167094189s/18765.jpg|4232388] back to back as I really wanted to follow through to the end of the prophecy with which "I, Claudius" opens. Also, both the style and content of the books was extremely compelling and I really wanted to find out what happened next! The books content shows no sign of their publishing age (1934/1935), I guess because the referenced events are orders of magnitude older and there was no attempt to modernise the story, merely translate (OK, and perhaps add an element of excitement and intrigue).
I listened to these books, the Recorded Books version read by Nelson Runger. The performance was quite well done and I had no problems with it.
alexmonster's review against another edition
4.0
(Almost) as good as the first one, but more sad. And I missed Livia.
jek44120's review against another edition
5.0
This book and the one before it come at you with such an onslaught of information that it is difficult to stay on top of what's going on; less so in this second book. Just let it wash over you and enjoy the story.
This guy's life was nuts, and so perhaps was he. Graves makes history fairly exciting and a lot more interesting than any textbook I was tortured with at school. Though it has been embellished with artistic license, this story is true and has been well researched by the author who drew from a great deal of source material.
This guy's life was nuts, and so perhaps was he. Graves makes history fairly exciting and a lot more interesting than any textbook I was tortured with at school. Though it has been embellished with artistic license, this story is true and has been well researched by the author who drew from a great deal of source material.
kynan's review against another edition
4.0
Great, now I have to go and read some actual (ie non-fiction) Roman history to find out if I just learned something or if I just read through two books worth of Days or Our Lives, circa 41 AD.
I read [b:Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina|52251|Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina|Robert Graves|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170385969s/52251.jpg|4232163] and [b:I, Claudius|18765|I, Claudius|Robert Graves|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167094189s/18765.jpg|4232388] back to back as I really wanted to follow through to the end of the prophecy with which "I, Claudius" opens. Also, both the style and content of the books was extremely compelling and I really wanted to find out what happened next! The books content shows no sign of their publishing age (1934/1935), I guess because the referenced events are orders of magnitude older and there was no attempt to modernise the story, merely translate (OK, and perhaps add an element of excitement and intrigue).
I listened to these books, the Recorded Books version read by Nelson Runger. The performance was quite well done and I had no problems with it.
I read [b:Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina|52251|Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina|Robert Graves|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170385969s/52251.jpg|4232163] and [b:I, Claudius|18765|I, Claudius|Robert Graves|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167094189s/18765.jpg|4232388] back to back as I really wanted to follow through to the end of the prophecy with which "I, Claudius" opens. Also, both the style and content of the books was extremely compelling and I really wanted to find out what happened next! The books content shows no sign of their publishing age (1934/1935), I guess because the referenced events are orders of magnitude older and there was no attempt to modernise the story, merely translate (OK, and perhaps add an element of excitement and intrigue).
I listened to these books, the Recorded Books version read by Nelson Runger. The performance was quite well done and I had no problems with it.
sjstuart's review against another edition
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Continues where I, Claudius left off, with more of the same. It begins to drag a little, or perhaps the novelty has worn off. I'm more than ready not to be thinking about the Roman Empire every day at this point. Although I would sign on for another volume if it were from Herod Agrippa's point of view. He seems to be the Captain Jack Sparrow of antiquity.