I, ClaudiusI, Claudius
Score Classic
What it's about
Claudius, a stammering, limping, scholarly member of Rome's imperial family whom everyone dismisses as a fool, narrates the history of his family from the reign of Augustus through Tiberius and the mad Caligula. He survives by being underestimated, while around him his grandmother Livia, a brilliant schemer, and a cast of ambitious relatives poison, plot and betray their way through decades of Roman power.
Why it's worth reading
It's a hugely entertaining historical novel, gossipy, witty and full of intrigue, that brings ancient Rome to life. It's on both the TIME and Modern Library lists of the century's best novels.
You'll love it if you liked
The Godfather
Wolf Hall
East of EdenGood to know
There are many characters with similar Roman names, so a family tree helps (most editions include one). Its sequel is Claudius the God.
By the numbers
- Readers84 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics83 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller40 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #13 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #30 of the 762 classics we rank
- #109 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Robert Graves
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Quick answers
Is I, Claudius worth reading?
Yes. It's a hugely entertaining historical novel, gossipy, witty and full of intrigue, that brings ancient Rome to life. It ranks #109 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 86.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is I, Claudius about?
Claudius, a stammering, limping, scholarly member of Rome's imperial family whom everyone dismisses as a fool, narrates the history of his family from the reign of Augustus through Tiberius and the mad Caligula. He survives by being underestimated, while around him his grandmother Livia, a brilliant schemer, and a cast of ambitious relatives poison, plot and betray their way through decades of Roman power.
How long does it take to read I, Claudius?
About 12 hours (482 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after I, Claudius?
If you liked it, try The Godfather by Mario Puzo, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel or East of Eden by John Steinbeck.