Robert Graves Books In Order

Publication Order of Claudius Books

Publication Order of Sergeant Lamb Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Chapbooks

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Robert Graves was born on July 24, 1895 in Wimbledon. His father, Alfred Perceval Graves was a minor Irish poet and a Gaelic scholar. His mother was Amalie von Ranke and she was closely related to Leopold von Ranke; one of the founder fathers of the recent and modern historical studies. Robert was the 10th kid in the family and he was influenced greatly by the puritanical beliefs of his mother as well as the love of Celtic poetry and myth by his dad. As many young men, he was just greatly interested in mountain climbing and boxing rather than studying. However, his love for poetry, eventually sustained him throughout the adolescence period. In 1913, Robert Graves got a scholarship to further his studies in Oxford, at St. John’s College. He was later enlisted as one of the junior officers in Royal Welch Fusiliers, in August 1914. Robert Graves got injured while fighting the Battle of Loos, in the year 1916. While still recovering, he was able to publish his 1st collection poetry novels, Over Brazier. By the year 1917, he had written a 2-volume fiction autobiography of a Roman emperor, which was broadcasted by BBC. He is well known for his famous series, Claudius. These books have been televised widely thus leading to its popularity.

Robert wrote the first book (I, Claudius) in the series in 1934. He wrote its new edition in the year 1957. Robert Graves is widely-remembered for his love for poetry and also for the times that he got several accolades as an appreciation for his great works. He became a professor of poetry at Oxford and he was also requested to lecture at the prestigious Clark Lectures in Cambridge. Robert was later made member of American Academy of poets and also awarded Queen’s poetry Medal.

Here is a brief description of his 2 early books in Claudius series:

I, Claudius

This is the first book in the Claudius series by Robert Graves. It’s set in the 1st century A.D. in the Rome and is written as autobiographical memoir. I, Claudius revolves around an interesting story about the life of a Roman emperor Claudius. It still stands as one of modern classics of the historical fiction.

Things were quite boring in ancient Rome with no internet, video games or TV. As you read the book, you will discover that the main source of entertainment of the Roman citizens came from watching what imperial family did to one another. There was also the intrigue and crime of shows like The Sopranos. All were the mainly set about betrayal and narcissism of the reality season TV shows. It was just more sex and the region had enough of family dysfunction which made the visitors to look more classy. You could just kick off your own sandals, place up your feet and observe through the window as various people got betrayed, disgraced, murdered, robbed, married, exiled and divorced.

The story has been told from Claudius’ perspective. There was a member of the royal family that survived because he was viewed as an idiot due to his bad leg and the fact that he was a stammer. Part of the reason for this was the fact that he didn’t have enough money for him to be killed for his estate. He was just shunned and forgotten by most of his family members. Claudius becomes the scholar and the historian who documented the bad things that were happening around him as people seek to gain and keep power.

In all his life, Claudius had to deal with 3 emperors; the sullen, noble Augustus, the crazy Caligula and the paranoid Tiberius. Livia, his grandmother was married to Augustus. Augustus ruthlessly manipulated and destroyed her family generations to ensure that his son Tiberius could inherit the throne one day.

This is one of the great books that make Roman history stay alive. Claudius is a very sympathetic narrator. There’s always a streak of the hilarious humor that accompanies all the palace intrigue.

Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina

This is the second book in the Claudius series by Robert Graves. Robert Graves starts the new tumultuous life of a Roman emperor who just rose to the ranks against all odds. The series captures the splendor, decadence and vitality of Roman world at the point when it was just declining.

Tiberius Claudius rose to the Roman throne in the second installment of Claudius series by Robert Graves. After debacle of the reign of his 3 relatives, Caligula, Tiberius and Augustus, Claudius is just left with the Roman society in a ruin, and his old dream of re-establishing this Republic fades away. In his efforts to re-establish The Roman Empire from the brink disaster, Claudius has to institute many governmental reforms. He’s somehow successful during his 13th year at the helm of the reign, but his efforts are thwarted by corrupt leaders and the behind scenes manipulation by the ruling classes. The chief manipulator was his wife Messalina. Messalina plans his downfall and thus involves herself in extremes which were popular in Caligula’s cohorts. She finally gets what she wanted, thus breaking the heart of Claudius in process. There are many people who truly love Claudius, and even his own grandmother Livia shows him the grudging respect.

The novel was published after the popular I, Claudius and it’s just as interesting as the first book in the series. The book has tried to match the transparent attempt of cashing on previous novel’s success. Robert Graves has made himself a lovable narrator in the Rome Emperor, having trodden and endeared the nervous Claudius to his readers in the first novel. The experience transformed Claudius into a very exceptionally able ruler and a brilliant military strategist as well. The adventures of Claudius as an Emperor are cynically made for exploitation of the interests of the modern British readers; despite it not having any particular inclination towards the conquest. As such Claudius visits a familiar environment of the Great Britain for an absurd battle. He finally manages to get himself caught in many events that resemble the origins of Christian religion.

Robert Graves has again managed to show his wonderful talent in gripping tale. The series is just phenomenally good. Both I, Claudius and this second book will take a bit of time follow it. Nevertheless, when you are through you will feel satisfied and at the same time regretful that the experience is over. The suspense will certainly leave you looking forward to the next book in the series.