Shame it's abridged.

I have listened to the BBC Radio dramatisation (both books in one) which is excellent but just too short as an audiobook, and I wanted to fill in the gaps, which this recording and its predecessor has done to some extent. I first read the print books in the mid 60s - can't believe it's that long - and they certainly made Roman history more exciting and even helped add a few marks to O Grade Latin. Latin was compulsory for university back then! I don't do much re-reading of print except for study these days, but find audiobooks allow me to revisit old favourites while doing something else. And for that I want the WHOLE THING! Also some edits don't consider that next in series might be mysterious without the rejected bits in previous book.
Derek Jacobi became eternally associated with the Julio-Claudians after the BBC TV series, so he's the expected voice of Claudius, though it was fine for him to be Augustus on the Radio 4 version.

21 people found this helpful

Why, oh why, oh why!!

This has been abridged in much the same way Caligula abridged Gemellus. Surely this story deserves better. Read the book … watch the TV show. Jacobi is as remarkable as ever, but this is a total waste of money.

16 people found this helpful

Robert Graves Speaks

If you could sum up I, Claudius in three words, what would they be?

Thrilling, fascinating, absorbing.

What other book might you compare I, Claudius to, and why?

What comparison can one make? Except to say that despite having been written 70-80 years before, I Caudius (and Claudius the God) reads as easily as any novel by the excellent Mr Robert Harris, or John Grisham or Val McDermid.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I frankly enjoyed the whole book - it's like a symphony or a concerto, one has to listen to it all, and both books at that.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

A short paragraph about Calpurnia was touching - in Claudius the God.

Any additional comments?

Based on the histories of Suetonius and Tacitus, Robert Graves has given the world two great novels covering the era of first Emperors of Rome.
Although the books are very good reads off the written page, in Audio, Derek Jacobi further breaths a rich vitality to the tale, his voice conveying young and old, women and men with equal east and no artifice.
The only two reproaches, this was an abridged version (which I knew, but wanted the Jacobi narration) and I would have preferred the whole text. Secondly, the Vivaldi interludes were not appropriate in my opinion. A trumpet fanfare as in the excellent and seminal BBC TV dramatisation would have been super.

10 people found this helpful

Still a fantastic read.

So, first. There’s one slight editing glitch about mid way through. But otherwise this is an amazing book that really stands the test of time. There is no family saga like this one. Bloody, twisted, full of wonderfully dark characters. And all of them are real. Everything that happens in this book is a matter of historical record. Possibly slightly sensationalised for fiction, but in general it’s all recorded in the ancient sources.
Derek Jacobi is brilliant. You wouldn’t expect anything else really. I’m old enough to have watched the BBC adaptation of this, and the sequel. Made in 1976. Derek Jacobi played Claudius in that too. If you can find a copy, do yourself a favour and watch it. It’s mesmerising.

5 people found this helpful

love it!

I watched the series and read the book. This audio book is the perfect combination.
Who other than Derek Jacobi can make Claudius come to life like this?
He was a great companion during many walks.

4 people found this helpful

Hard Going

I initially got this as I'm interested in Roman history and also the fact that the narrator was Derek Jacobi. I knew it would get a bit complicated but that was an understatement. Part of my disappointment was the fact that it went in to too much detail about things that weren't directly to do with Claudius, such as the military sections. Whilst there is a bed for family background, there wasn't much about him. Also, for some unknown and very annoying reason, someone felt the need to stick vivaldi in between what assume were chapters. If you must separate them, at least use something more appropriate. Had to return in the end.

4 people found this helpful

Sadly an abridged version

Excellent narrating by Derek Jacobi - to be honest, after watching the TV series, who else could be chosen to read this? However, having also read the original book, I was disappointed that it had been abridged. A full version read by Derek Jacobi would have fully merited 5 stars.

2 people found this helpful

How many people and how many names?

At first I found it quite difficult to listen to an account that is so matter of fact about violence and the abuse of power, but I guess it is trying to offer context through the narrative. After a while I found it to be quite refreshing in terms of not having to feel discomfort in listing to others pain, and that provided a point of critical reflection. There are many characters and names to remember, often similar, and it can be difficult to keep up, and as it is an audio book it can sometimes be onerous trying to move backwards and forwards if you want to recap on something you heard earlier.

2 people found this helpful

Somewhat unsatisfactory - but not dreadful!

I came to this recording with high expectations. Derek Jacobi - I Claudius - sounds good! Jacobi narrates well, conveying Claudius' stutter exceptionally well at the appropriate moment. The main problem I had was keeping track of all the characters! I found that - as a story to listen to whilst driving - my mind wandered too easily, and when I came back to it, I couldn't work out who was related to whom and what connection they had to the overall story. This got better the longer I listened, and there are some useful recaps during the unfolding of the tale: but nevertheless, I was left feeling rather disappointed. Having just listened to Robert Harris' 'Lustrum' - also a tale set in Rome amidst cruetly and duplicity - I felt this suffered by comparison. But not a total write off! Perhaps worth a relisten at some future date.

2 people found this helpful

Shame it is abridged

But that is the only criticism one can make (and abridged slightly clumsily too). Jacobi is wonderful and the book is a deserved classic.