I, Claudius From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius by Robert Graves

I, Claudius, by Robert Graves, is a biography composed in the words of the Roman Emperor himself. Tiberius Claudius, born in 10 BCE, was the son of Nero Claudius and his mother was Livia. He was a somewhat sickly child with a physical handicap, and was often overlooked in his family. As a young man, he was sent to live with relatives in order to pursue an education in private.

Claudius, however, was known for his keen intellect, knowledge of Latin, and understanding of Roman politics. He soon became known as the 'stammering Claudian', and although he was never formally accepted into the Senate, he was able to prove his worth in various ways.

In 19 CE, Claudius was named the heir to Tiberius' throne, despite not being part of the ruling family. He then went on to become a respected Roman Emperor for the next 22 years, and his reign ended in 54 CE.

I, Claudius was composed over the course of some thirty years, with the text being composed from both the memoirs and written works of Claudius himself. The book follows Claudius through the events of his life, from his early days of being ignored and underestimated, to his eventual rise to power.

Claudius is portrayed as a man of great intelligence and skill, having outmaneuvered many of his adversaries and rivals and shown great wisdom in many of his decisions and actions. He goes on to demonstrate his strength of character, as he was able to resist the corrupting influence of power and retain his morals, despite all of the temptations to do otherwise.

I, Claudius is a valuable insight into Roman politics, thought, and culture during the time of Claudius' reign. It also serves as a lens through which one can view the significance of religious beliefs, familial relationships, and personal loyalty in a Roman context.

A key part of the book deals with Claudius' handling of the infamous Roman power struggle, the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. Claudius is known for his ability to maneuver through both the political conflicts of the time and the jealousies of the family that wanted the imperial power for themselves.

Claudius was able to broker peace between the warring factions, and leave a legacy that remains a major part of Roman history. He became a well-known and admired figure, not only within the Roman Empire, but across the world.

Graves captures the events of this turbulent time brilliantly and gives readers an intimate insight into the decisions, thoughts, and feelings of one of the most important figures of Roman history. By the end of I, Claudius, readers can come away with an understanding of the complex issues of religion, family, and politics during a key period in Roman history.