I, Claudius
Critique • Quotes
First editionFirst publication
1934
Literature form
Novel
Genres
Literary, historical fiction
Writing language
English
Author's country
England
Length
Approx. 152,000 words
Notable lines
I, Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus This-that-and-the-other (for I shall not trouble you yet with all my titles), who was once, and not so long ago, known to my friends and relatives and associates as "Claudius the Idiot", or "That Claudius", or Claudius the Stammerer", or Clau-Clau-Claudius", or at best as "Poor Uncle Claudius", am now about to write this strange history of my life; starting from my earliest childhood and continuing year by year until I reach the fateful point of change where, some eight years ago, at the age of fifty-one, I suddenly found myself caught in what I may call the 'golden predicament' from which I have never since become disentangled.
— First line
He was always boasting of his ancestors, as stupid people do who are aware that they have done nothing themselves to boast about.
He was always boasting of his ancestors, as stupid people do who are aware that they have done nothing themselves to boast about.
How many twisted stories still remained to be straightened out. What a miraculous fate for a historian! And as you will have seen, I took full advantage of my opportunities. Even the mature historian's privilege of setting forth conversations of which he knows only the gist is one that I have availed myself of hardly at all.
— Last lines
Critique • Quotes
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