Reviews

Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina by Robert Graves

anyajulchen's review against another edition

4.0

Es un muy buen libro, que completa la historia del Emperador Claudio. Aunque no tan bueno como "Yo, Claudio", disfruté muchísimo la lectura.

sydneystein's review against another edition

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. 

lydiagardiner's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Hard work but unforgettable 

aliteralfield's review against another edition

challenging informative medium-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? No

3.75

Claudius the God starts where I, Claudius left off, at the scene of the assassination of Caligula. The first four chapters are dedicated to Herod Agrippa, the Jewish king who grew up in Rome. Claudius calls him a 'scoundrel with a golden heart'. He then continues to relate how he managed to clean up the political and financial mess that Caligula left behind and undertook some major works in Rome (two aqueducts that doubled the water supply in the city, the draining of a lake, and the harbour of Ostia). Leading up to the invasion of Britain, Claudius gives us the historical background of the Celtic tribes, the Druids, Stonehenge and the British women with their "fierce tempers". A lot of focus on one of his wife’s Messalina who he loved dearly but she was cunning behind his back and then on his final wife Agrippina who helped plot his poisoning leading to the succession of Nero as Emperor. Very informative but digestible to read. It does get confusing  with the amount of incest in the family and people having the same names, but that’s the romans for you.

wheelofparm's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

thedocument's review against another edition

challenging dark funny informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

charlottesometimes's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

uhambe_nami's review against another edition

5.0

Claudius the God starts where I, Claudius left off, at the scene of the assassination of Caligula. The first four chapters are dedicated to Herod Agrippa, the Jewish king who grew up in Rome. Claudius calls him a 'scoundrel with a golden heart'. He then continues to relate how he managed to clean up the political and financial mess that Caligula left behind and undertook some major works in Rome (two aqueducts that doubled the water supply in the city, the draining of a lake, and the harbour of Ostia). Leading up to the invasion of Britain, Claudius gives us the historical background of the Celtic tribes, the Druids, Stonehenge and the British women with their "fierce tempers".
Beautifully written and totally engrossing, historical fiction does not get much better than this.

mbs1236's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

natashasacks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0