I, Claudius by Robert Graves (Review)

After recently finishing "The Founders and the Classics: Greece, Rome, and the American Enlightenment," I had Rome on my mind. I also realized I was overdue for some fiction, and "I, Claudius" seemed like a fitting complement to "The Founders and the Classics." Needless to say, this classic book did not disappoint. It was apparent from start to finish why "I, Claudius" appears on so many greatest-fiction lists. In a time when a remarkable number of people devoured "Game of Thrones," I couldn't help but appreciate that a number of the machinations in the tv series paled in comparison to Roman history, particularly in Robert Graves's gifted hands. My one warning is that it is worth reading a brief primer on the Roman emperors' family trees, just to keep the names straight in the early portions of the book. That critique really stems from my own shortcomings in world history more so than a knock against the book, but it remains a warning that some readers may benefit from an overview of the key figures. I enjoyed "I, Claudius" from start to finish and recommend it for anyone who enjoys quality fiction. I intend to read Graves's sequel, "Claudius the God" sometime soon in light of how much I enjoyed the first installment.