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I CLAVDIVS
Jun. 3rd, 2020 07:11 pmBook Review: I, Claudius, by Robert Graves
I was far too young to have seen the TV series when it was originally broadcast in the 1970s, but it did get a repeat showing in the 1980s (possibly after Graves' death in 1985) and I recall seeing at least one episode towards the end of the series. At the time the thing I found instantly striking was the spectacularly maelstromic and maniacal theme music by Wilfred Josephs.
In the author's note at the beginning, Graves draws attention to the laboured writing style, saying that it is in imitation of Claudius himself. Whilst the style is laboured, it seemed to me to be a good match for translations of classical works by, for example, Julius Caesar and Suetonius, and is the style of such contemporary writing. The conceit for the book, that a Sybil prophecies that the word of Claudius shall be heard nineteen-hundred years hence, is undeniably clever. Writing frequently with humour and self-deprecation, Claudius gives a history from the time of his birth to his becoming Emperor, more often playing the fool than being it.
Although Claudius claims to be writing an autobiography, the first half or so of the book is really about Livia, and to a lesser extent, Augustus. If it seems difficult to believe that one person could have poisoned so many without consequence, then we have to remember that might was right, there was little in the way of law enforcement, no forensic science, and a highly superstitious population who would believe all sorts of prophecies and omens. The idea that Augustus eventually chose Tiberius as his successor on the basis of being less popular seems vain but plausible. That Tiberius would then choose Caligula says much about both of them. In the past few years I've often thought that the current POTUS and his court reminds me of Caligula, and the book does little to dissuade me of that, with its arbitrary charges, executions, falling out of favour and back in again, and mismanaged economy. At least as far as I know, in DC no horses have been made senators. I'm looking forward to the sequel.
I was far too young to have seen the TV series when it was originally broadcast in the 1970s, but it did get a repeat showing in the 1980s (possibly after Graves' death in 1985) and I recall seeing at least one episode towards the end of the series. At the time the thing I found instantly striking was the spectacularly maelstromic and maniacal theme music by Wilfred Josephs.
In the author's note at the beginning, Graves draws attention to the laboured writing style, saying that it is in imitation of Claudius himself. Whilst the style is laboured, it seemed to me to be a good match for translations of classical works by, for example, Julius Caesar and Suetonius, and is the style of such contemporary writing. The conceit for the book, that a Sybil prophecies that the word of Claudius shall be heard nineteen-hundred years hence, is undeniably clever. Writing frequently with humour and self-deprecation, Claudius gives a history from the time of his birth to his becoming Emperor, more often playing the fool than being it.
Although Claudius claims to be writing an autobiography, the first half or so of the book is really about Livia, and to a lesser extent, Augustus. If it seems difficult to believe that one person could have poisoned so many without consequence, then we have to remember that might was right, there was little in the way of law enforcement, no forensic science, and a highly superstitious population who would believe all sorts of prophecies and omens. The idea that Augustus eventually chose Tiberius as his successor on the basis of being less popular seems vain but plausible. That Tiberius would then choose Caligula says much about both of them. In the past few years I've often thought that the current POTUS and his court reminds me of Caligula, and the book does little to dissuade me of that, with its arbitrary charges, executions, falling out of favour and back in again, and mismanaged economy. At least as far as I know, in DC no horses have been made senators. I'm looking forward to the sequel.