I, Claudius   by Robert Graves

Spring, until Dec 1, 2004.     A gift from my literatur-addict Mother.

This book, was not so Bad, that I took half a year to read it; it was just not so interesting, to come before all the other reading material that I came across. Some parts near the beginning, were particularly... overly lengthy, and lost my interest. So, I read this and that in the mean time, and then went on vacation for the summer, and then continued reading this or that, and only picked this book up... when I had no real interest in anything else.

I make this sound barely worth reading, don't I? That should not be the case though, because it was all well written, and most of it interesting too. -I think that the lack of interest that I showed nearer to the beginning, was largely due to an overabundance of characters. This made the whole history into a bit of a mish-mashed collection of who got who murdered, for which political fears, and who was then next in succession. As a topic for a book, I was not so interested in it. -at all. At least, until I'd read further, and understood how all these events fit together, and formed the things that were to come. What also made a difference, was having a deeper insight into the main characters, (that were still alive, at one point of the book or another.) This element made the story much more interesting: in trying to understand what the people were thinking, and being surprised by what they did next. (And I had to know them well enough to guess at what they Might do, before I could be surprised by what they DID do.

Now then, this was set in ancient Rome, seemingly in the first century AD. So, there is naturally a great deal of that time period, and passages which give insight into what life was like. (both Materially, and politically.) That aspect of it was done immensely well. -Especially so, because the narrator through out, is a historian, and has full liberty to describe varied scenes, which would be of historic interest, (especially to us, the modern readers.)

The ending was powerful, and leaves me wondering what else happens to this emperor, and the civilisation. -There apparently Is a sequel to this book, but Will I ever find it? very likely not.

One example of how This is much more interesting, if the reader already knows some of this history/background of the characters: One of the people I found most interesting, was "Herman the German." -Who I know here, as the Legendary Hero, who fought his whole life for the freedom of his people. And then in this book, where he's that most annoying German Tribal War-lord, Who's rallying whole armies about him, and resisting the German Rule. (And will never surrender, or have reasonable settlement discussions.) So, because I know a little about other tales of that man, it was that much more interesting to see what there was to say about him in this book. I'm sure that it would work much the same way, if I knew the old Romans, (such as "who did Emperor Nero become?)

Anyhow, it was fine as a book, though I would have enjoyed it 100 times more, if I was an ancient History student. And now, I'd love to read the sequel.

(But RIGHT now, I must SLEEP!)

(In the morning, after a good night's sleep.)

One of the ideas which has stayed in my mind was this: That each Emperor appointed as his successor someone who will do the job just a little worse than he, himself did. This was done so that the people would look back, and remember him with respect, as the Emperor of "The good Times."

I can not explain why that idea catches my attention so. Part of it must be just the shock of such a terrible policy. And part of it, the dark logic behind it, and wondering that this doesn't occur more now, in the present. (I think that the Vanity is still present in leaders large and small...)

Also, there was a dark fascination with madness; It is a disturbing thing, but one that is so... interesting, to know how someone looses all touch with reality. (As the Emperors do, to increasing degrees.) And... that's all I can think of to add at the moment.