Podcast
The Rest Is History
The hosts cited the book as a key cultural reference that shaped modern portrayals of Claudius, noting its roots in Suetonius and its influence on later TV dramas. Dominic highlighted how Graves turned ancient material into a compelling novel that later became a popular BBC series. The discussion conveyed strong approval of its relevance for listeners interested in Roman history.
Episode: 537. Emperors of Rome: Claudius, Paranoia and Pois...
The podcast referenced the novel as a cultural touchstone for understanding Claudius's character and his historical portrayal.
anyone who's read I, Claudius will remember Narcissus and Pallas and people like that, who presumably they're very bright and they're very good.
I, Claudius, you know, as a novel, but even more as a TV drama kind of lies at the head of all these great dynastic epics that we've had on TV over the past decades.
Episode: 534. Emperors of Rome: Sex Secrets of the Caesars...
The discussion noted that Robert Graves transformed Suetonius's material into the novel I,Claudius, which later inspired a popular TV series.
The identity of the man who translated the previous edition of Suetonius' Lives for Penguin Classics, who's none other than Robert Graves. So the author of I,Claudius obviously turned the raw material from the Twelve Caesars into his novels I,Claudius and Claudius the God.
I,Claudius then became a BBC TV series in the 1970s, hugely successful.
Episode: 500. The Roman Conquest of Britain: The Empire Str...
The hosts noted that many listeners were familiar with the TV series or had read Graves' novel.
People remember the TV show, I, Claudius or read Robert Graves' novels.
Episode: 56. Nero
The hosts referenced the novel while noting it was used as a source for a television dramatization about Nero.
the Heineken advert ... I Claudius ... Christopher begins as Nero is he's sent in so many gladiators to death that he can't move his thumb so they bring on a glass and he drinks it and then he's able to start sentencing gladiators to death again