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A review by sydneystein
Claudius the God: And His Wife Messalina by Robert Graves
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It took me a while to read this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had a difficult time keeping track of all of the characters, but overall, deeply appreciated the story of an Emperor who desperately believes in the Republic.
Though a biased narrator, Claudius does appear to be a just ruler. While he absolutely has moments of greed and pettiness, he nonetheless seems to care greatly for the people and what is in the best interest of Rome. His foreign affairs seem well-handled - Herod Agrippa seeking power in the East, the conquering of Britain. His building of the harbor in Ostia and attempt to drain the Fucine Lake are examples of his interest in public works. I like that he went to court and decided cases, and told lawyers to simplify their arguments in order to get justice moving.
Claudius's relationships are human, and while he seems to think little of the women around him, I appreciate that he gives them their due. Messalina fully takes advantage of him, but her promiscuity does seem rather exaggerated. The "prostitute with a heart of gold" stereotype that is Calpurnia, who lives with her "friend" Cleopatra is, of course, delightful. I of course loved Agrippinilla, as much as I loved her great-grandmother Livia - cunning and clever, doing what she can to exact agency for herself and her son.
I wasn't sure at what point "the god" was going to play into the story, but Claudius's revelation that in being a benevolent and fair ruler, he has doomed the republic, brought it all to light. Perhaps meant to justify a decline in Claudius's abilities in the last third of his rule, I appreciated how this played out across the last of the book. I only wish to have learned more about Nero, and that he had been a bigger character, since it just seems rather ominous rather than well explained.
Overall, I love Graves's writing, and I would recommend this book to any lovers of historical fiction.
Though a biased narrator, Claudius does appear to be a just ruler. While he absolutely has moments of greed and pettiness, he nonetheless seems to care greatly for the people and what is in the best interest of Rome. His foreign affairs seem well-handled - Herod Agrippa seeking power in the East, the conquering of Britain. His building of the harbor in Ostia and attempt to drain the Fucine Lake are examples of his interest in public works. I like that he went to court and decided cases, and told lawyers to simplify their arguments in order to get justice moving.
Claudius's relationships are human, and while he seems to think little of the women around him, I appreciate that he gives them their due. Messalina fully takes advantage of him, but her promiscuity does seem rather exaggerated. The "prostitute with a heart of gold" stereotype that is Calpurnia, who lives with her "friend" Cleopatra is, of course, delightful. I of course loved Agrippinilla, as much as I loved her great-grandmother Livia - cunning and clever, doing what she can to exact agency for herself and her son.
Overall, I love Graves's writing, and I would recommend this book to any lovers of historical fiction.