Historic Replicas

Although few of his writings have survived, Tiberius Claudius was one of the most influential historians of ancient Rome—not to mention the fact the he became Emperor. It can often be difficult to humanize these ancient figures who have reached mythical proportions, but that’s exactly what Robert Graves does in his fictional autobiography of Tiberius, “I, Claudius.”

The book, which is consistently voted as one of the best of the 20th century, gives a vivid, personalized picture of the miraculous rise to power of Tiberius Claudius. During the story, it’s often easy to forget that the book is an act of fiction due to its historical consistencies and distinct voice. Much of the book deals with the politics of the time—including the reigns of Julius Caesar, Augustus and Caligula—but there are also graphic accounts of soldiers and gladiators battling in Roman armour.