Description

“I, TIBERIUS CLAUDIUS… AM NOW ABOUT TO WRITE THIS STRANGE HISTORY OF MY LIFE”: I, CLAUDIUS, SIGNED IN THE YEAR OF PUBLICATION

GRAVES, Robert. I, Claudius. London: Arthur Barker Limited, 1934. Octavo, original blue cloth, original dust jacket.

First edition of Graves’ most famous novel, inscribed by the author in the year of publication: “Robert Graves, May 4, 1934.”

Drawing from such ancient sources as Tacitus and Suetonius, Graves created the secret “autobiography” of Claudius, narrated “in the imaginatively and idiosyncratically conceived persona of the emperor” (Drabble, 412). “In I, Claudius and its successor, Claudius the God, Robert Graves wrote two of the most resonant historical novels of the century” (Parker, 175).

Near-fine book with covers lightly rubbed. Extremely good dust jacket with tape reinforcement to verso, with light soiling and minor edge-wear, front panel of dust jacket quite bright. A scarce signed copy.