<div>In this sequel to I, Claudius, the story of the Roman Emperor&mdash;on which the award-winning BBC TV series was based&mdash;continues . . . In I, Claudius, Robert Graves began the story of the limping, stammering young man who is suddenly thrust onto the throne after the death of Caligula. In Claudius the God, Graves continues the story, detailing Claudius&rsquo;s thirteen-year reign and his ultimate downfall. Painting the vivid, tumultuous, and decadent society of ancient Rome with spectacular detail, Graves provides a tale that is instructive, compelling, and difficult to put down for both casual readers and students of Roman history.</div>

Claudius the God

<div>An accessible anthology of the greatest ancient Greek myths and legends for readers of all ages by the celebrated classicist and historical novelist. According to the myths, gods and goddesses of ancient Greece lived on Mount Olympus and ruled the world of mortals. Famous heroes shaped the course of history, beautiful women drew the gazes of gods and men alike, and the gods were both fickle in their favors and breathtakingly generous to those they smiled upon. From Midas&rsquo;s tragic gift to the exploits of Hercules and the curse of Pandora, Robert Graves brings the legends of ancient Greece to life in a way that&rsquo;s sure to appeal to everyone; from children to adults, and from casual readers to serious scholars. &ldquo;Directly told, with no attempt to oversimplify them, a good deal of the symbolism and the association with the pattern of ancient Greece survives.&rdquo; &mdash;Kirkus Reviews (starred review).</div>

Greek Gods and Heroes

<div>&ldquo;Both the knowledge of a scholar and the imagination of a poet are brought to bear upon Jesus as child, boy, and man. . . . A bold speculative adventure&rdquo; (Harold Brighouse, Manchester Guardian). In Robert Graves&rsquo;s unique retelling, Jesus is very much a mortal and the grandson of King Herod the Great. When his father runs afoul of the king&rsquo;s temper and is executed, Jesus is raised in the house of Joseph the Carpenter. The kingdom he is heir to, in this version of the story, is very much a terrestrial one: the Kingdom of Judah. Graves tells of Jesus&rsquo;s rise as a philosopher, scriptural scholar, and charismatic speaker in sharp detail, as well as his arrest and downfall as a victim of pitiless Roman politics. Bringing together his unparalleled narrative skill and in-depth expertise in historical scholarship, renowned classicist and historical novelist Robert Graves brings the story of Jesus Christ to life in a strikingly unorthodox way, making this one of the most hotly contested novels Graves ever wrote&mdash;and possibly one of the most controversial ever written. It provides a fascinating new twist to a well-known story, one that fans of this historical period are sure to love. &ldquo;This is not reading for the easily shocked; it definitely presents Jesus as a sage and a [poet], if not divine. It moves, as does all Mr. Graves&rsquo; writing, at a brilliant fast pace, and with a tremendous style.&rdquo; &mdash;Kirkus Reviews</div>

King Jesus

<div>The controversial prose-and-verse translation of the ancient war epic by the acclaimed author of I, Claudius&mdash;&ldquo;full of new and provocative ideas&rdquo; (Kirkus Reviews). The war between the Greeks and the Trojans has reached a fever pitch. Offended by Agamemnon, the great Greek warrior Achilles is in his tent, refusing to fight. But then Trojan prince Hector slaughters Achilles&rsquo;s intimate friend Patroclus. Willing or not, Achilles must take revenge for his friend&rsquo;s death, even if it will result in his own. The Anger of Achilles is a novelized interpretation of Homer&rsquo;s Iliad, told by noted poet, classicist, and historical novelist Robert Graves. In this innovative take on the classic tale, Achilles comes to life in all his vivid rage, bravery, passion, and lust for battle. Combining his expertise in ancient Greek warfare and culture with a famed talent for compelling storytelling, Graves is the ideal translator to bring this ancient epic of war to a modern audience. This edition includes a compelling introduction by the author, who argues that Homer&rsquo;s Iliad is best understood as a satire, closer in spirit to the works of Cervantes than those of Milton. &ldquo;The translation is lucid and concise, the work of a scholar of some originality.&rdquo; &mdash;Kirkus Reviews</div>

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The Anger of Achilles

<div>This &ldquo;vigorous tale&rdquo; by the acclaimed author of I, Claudius captures the sixth century fall of the Byzantine Empire as seen through the eyes of a servant (Kirkus Reviews). Threatened by invaders on all sides, the Eastern Roman Empire of the sixth century fought to maintain its borders. Leading its defense was the Byzantine general Belisarius, a man who earned the grudging respect of his enemies, and who rose to become Emperor Justinian&rsquo;s greatest military leader. Loosely based on Procopius&rsquo;s History of the Justinian Wars and Secret History, this novel tells the Belisarius&rsquo;s story through the eyes of Eugenius, a eunuch and servant to the general&rsquo;s wife. It presents a compelling portrait of a man bound by a strict code of honor and unrelenting loyalty to an emperor who is intelligent but flawed, and whose decisions bring him to a tragic end. Eminent historical novelist and classicist Robert Graves presents a vivid account of a time in history both dissolute and violent, and demonstrates one again his mastery of this historical period. &ldquo;A brilliant piece of scholarship.&rdquo; &mdash;Kirkus Reviews &ldquo;The scope of the book is massive&mdash;encompassing religious controversy and cultural developments as well as military history&mdash;yet, throughout, Graves succeeds in blending historical details with the development of his main characters.&rdquo; &mdash;Historical Novel Society</div>

Count Belisarius

<div>&ldquo;One of the really remarkable books of our day&rdquo;&mdash;the story of the Roman emperor on which the award-winning BBC TV series was based (The New York Times). Once a rather bookish young man with a limp and a stammer, a man who spent most of his time trying to stay away from the danger and risk of the line of ascension, Claudius seemed an unlikely candidate for emperor. Yet, on the death of Caligula, Claudius finds himself next in line for the throne, and must stay alive as well as keep control. Drawing on the histories of Plutarch, Suetonius, and Tacitus, noted historian and classicist Robert Graves tells the story of the much-maligned Emperor Claudius with both skill and compassion. Weaving important themes throughout about the nature of freedom and safety possible in a monarchy, Graves&rsquo;s Claudius is both more effective and more tragic than history typically remembers him. A bestselling novel and one of Graves&rsquo; most successful, I, Claudius has been adapted to television, film, theatre, and audio. &ldquo;[A] legendary tale of Claudius . . . [A] gem of modern literature.&rdquo; &mdash;Publishers Weekly (starred review)</div>

I, Claudius

<div>The author of I, Claudius &ldquo;recounts, in faithful and nicely atmospheric detail&rdquo; the story of a British soldier during the American Revolution (The Philadelphia Inquirer). The first in a two-book series, Sergeant Lamb&rsquo;s America tells the story of Sgt. Roger Lamb, an Irish soldier who served on the British side during the American War of Independence. Based on real historical events and people, Sergeant Lamb recounts the British defeat and the capture of his unit at the Battle of Saratoga in a voice that&rsquo;s both funny, insightful, and wise. This fictionalized account is based on the journals of the historical Sergeant Roger Lamb, and is largely faithful to the true eyewitness account of the American Revolution told from the loser&rsquo;s perspective. With his engaging, personable voice and basic decency of character, Sergeant Lamb reminds us that regardless of how history casts the British side, there were good men on both sides of this important conflict. &ldquo;It is a historical novel for which one has a very real respect.&rdquo; &mdash;The New York Times</div>

Sergeant Lamb's America

<div>The real story of T. E. Lawrence&rsquo;s life as told by the author of I, Claudius. &ldquo;A combination of history, biography, and . . . an amazingly human tale&rdquo; (Boston Evening Transcript). Immortalized in the film Lawrence of Arabia, the real T. E. Lawrence was a leader, a war strategist, and a scholar, and is here immortalized in an intimate biography written by his close friend, the award-winning British novelist, poet and classicist Robert Graves. As a student at Oxford, T. E. Lawrence was fascinated with Middle Eastern history and culture, and underwent a four-month visit to Syria to study the fortifications built by the crusaders. Later, he returned to the region, this time as an archaeologist working with the British Army&rsquo;s Intelligence unit in Egypt during World War I. From there, in 1916, he joined Arab rebels fighting against Turkish domination. His brilliance as a desert war tactician earned him the respect of the Turkish fighters and worldwide renown. &ldquo;Interesting and informative.&rdquo; &mdash;New York Herald Tribune &ldquo;[Mr. Graves] has done his job admirably and without any too obvious excesses of hero worship.&rdquo; &mdash;New Statesman &ldquo;[Readers] will consult Mr. Graves for information about this man.&rdquo; &mdash;The New Republic</div>

Lawrence and the Arabs

<div>The author of I, Claudius tells the tale of a notorious nineteenth-century poisoner: &ldquo;A must for true-crime addicts&rdquo; (Kirkus Reviews). A self-confessed forger, cheat, thief, and petty criminal, William Palmer was also a surgeon and a racehorse owner during the Victorian era who doped horses, fixed races, philandered unapologetically, and generally behaved as an all-around rogue. But the crime for which he was condemned was altogether more serious: poisoning numerous members of his family as well as a close friend. Based on the historic trial of a man characterized as a sociopath and a serial killer, Robert Graves tells the story of a man who was deeply flawed but ultimately not beyond redemption. They Hanged My Saintly Billy is brimming with humor, emotion, and social commentary. Told through the eyes of both friends and enemies, Palmer comes to life as a not-unsympathetic antihero.</div>

They Hanged My Saintly Billy

<div>&ldquo;The best book on writing ever published&rdquo; (Patricia T. O&rsquo;Conner, author of Woe Is I). When Robert Graves and Alan Hodge decided to collaborate on this manual for writers, the world was in total upheaval. Graves had fled Majorca three years earlier at the start of the Spanish Civil War, and as they labored over their new project, they witnessed the fall of France and the evacuation of Allied forces at Dunkirk. Soon the horror of World War II would reach British soil as well, as the Luftwaffe began bombing London in an effort to destroy the resolve of the English people. Graves and Hodge believed that at a time when their whole world was falling apart, the survival of English prose sentences&mdash;of writing that was clear, concise, and intelligible&mdash;had become paramount if hope were going to outlive the onslaught. They came up with forty-one principles for writing, the majority devoted to clarity, the remainder to grace of expression. They studied the prose of a wide range of noted authors and leaders, finding much room for improvement. Successful communication could mean the difference between war and peace, life and death, and they were determined to contribute to its survival. The importance of good writing continues today, as obfuscation, propaganda, manipulative language, and sloppy standards are all too common&mdash;and this classic guide is just as useful and important as ever. Note: This edition restores the full, original 1943 text. &ldquo;To see what really expert mavens can do in applying their rule-based expertise to clearing up bad prose, get hold of a copy of The Reader Over Your Shoulder.&rdquo; &mdash;The Atlantic</div>

The Reader Over Your Shoulder

<div>The author of I, Claudius puts his own twist on the myth of the Argonauts&rsquo; quest for the Golden Fleece: &ldquo;A tour de force . . . A richly tapestried epic&rdquo; (Kirkus Reviews). An inventive reimagining of the story of Jason and the Argonauts, this novel by renowned poet and classicist Robert Graves brings heroic figures of Hellenistic myth to life. Graves&rsquo;s Jason is belligerent, energetic, and full of life, and the society Graves builds for him is outlandish and deeply invested in ancient cults. Against this primitive, religious backdrop, the charismatic Jason assembles a crew and sets out to retrieve the sacred gold-trimmed fleece that is sacred to Zeus, and that has been stolen by worshippers of the Triple Goddess. Accompanying him is Hercules, a brave warrior known more for his brawn, and his astonishingly good luck, than his brains. Robert Graves builds a compelling world that sets Hellenistic magic and mystery in a surprisingly gritty, realistic setting, a fascinating read for fans of Greek mythology. &ldquo;A witty historical novel with much insider&rsquo;s lore on cult and ritual.&rdquo; &mdash;The New York Review of Books &ldquo;Richly readable, thoroughly classical yet individually interpreted, this is a labor of love important to students, culture-seekers and readers.&rdquo; &mdash;Library Journal</div>

Hercules, My Shipmate

<div>Swashbuckling historical fiction from the author of I, Claudius. &ldquo;A cleverly balanced mixture of spice, fact, humor and adventure on and off the high seas&rdquo; (Kirkus Reviews). Set in the Age of Exploration, The Islands of Unwisdom tells the story of the ill-fated Don &Aacute;lvaro de Menda&ntilde;a y Neyra, a Spanish explorer set on finding the Solomon Islands, the mythical source of King Solomon&rsquo;s vast wealth. Driven by greed, ambition, and lust, Don Alvaro and his wife, the beautiful and dangerous Ysabel, lead a crew of adventurers beyond the horizon in search of the wealth of their wildest dreams. However, that&rsquo;s not exactly what they find. In the hands of master historical novelist, classicist, and poet Robert Graves, this tale offers a fascinating look at a brutal and bloody era, and insights into the reasons for Spain&rsquo;s failure to ultimately dominate world exploration during this time.</div>

The Islands of Unwisdom

<div>The author of I, Claudius reimagines the Trojan War for the young reader. &ldquo;The writing is clear, straightforward, and, in places, poetic&rdquo; (Kirkus Reviews). The Iliad has it all: war, corruption, greed, power, and the passions of both gods and men. In this detailed retelling, Robert Graves draws the major characters of this timeless classic in broad, gritty strokes, making Agamemnon, Paris, Odysseus, and others accessible for young readers. Written with a younger audience in mind, The Siege and Fall of Troy is nevertheless exhaustively researched and compelling enough to be of interest to both students of history and adult readers. With humor, wit, and energy, Graves is expert at weaving a story based on exhaustive scholarly research and deep imaginative prowess.</div>

The Siege and Fall of Troy

<div>The I, Claudius author&rsquo;s &ldquo;lightning sharp interpretations and insights . . . are here brought to bear with equal effectiveness on the Book of Genesis&rdquo; (Kirkus Reviews). This is a comprehensive look at the stories that make up the Old Testament and the Jewish religion, including the folk tales, apocryphal texts, midrashes, and other little-known documents that the Old Testament and the Torah do not include. In this exhaustive study, Robert Graves provides a fascinating account of pre-Biblical texts that have been censored, suppressed, and hidden for centuries, and which now emerge to give us a clearer view of Hebrew myth and religion than ever. Venerable classicist and historian Robert Graves recounts the ancient Hebrew stories, both obscure and familiar, with a rich sense of storytelling, culture, and spirituality. This book is sure to be riveting to students of Jewish or Judeo-Christian history, culture, and religion.</div>

Hebrew Myths

<div>The author of Sergeant Lamb&rsquo;s America continues the fictionalized account of an Irish soldier fighting for the British during the Revolutionary War. This is the second in a two-book series telling the story of Sgt. Roger Lamb, a non-commissioned officer in the British Army, who served in America during the American War of Independence. Captured with Gen. Johnny Burgoyne after the Battle of Saratoga, he made a daring escape and later served under General Cornwallis. Following closely to Sergeant Lamb&rsquo;s personal memoirs, renowned poet, classicist, and novelist Robert Graves traces the sergeant&rsquo;s harrowing time in the service, providing a compelling, only barely fictionalized eyewitness account of a crucial point in American history.</div>

Proceed, Sergeant Lamb

<div>From the author of I, Claudius: &ldquo;A re-weaving of Homeric myth reveals the true story of The Return of Odysseus for Nausicaa&rdquo; (Kirkus Reviews). In this innovative re-imagining of the Odyssey&rsquo;s history, Sicilian princess Nausicaa recounts her story, and how she, not the poet Homer, came to write the Odyssey. Set in the eighth century BC, it recounts the story of a determined young woman who lives an adventurous life: rescuing her father&rsquo;s throne from outside threats, freeing herself from an abusive marriage, and saving her two younger brothers from certain death. Nausicaa is a passionate, religious, and dynamic heroine who is more than a match for the heroes in the epic poem she claims to have authored. &ldquo;A great imagination and above all a powerful intellect.&rdquo; &mdash;The Daily Telegraph</div>

Homer's Daughter

<div>&ldquo;[A] penetrating study of one of the strangest marriages in history . . . Robert Graves, author of I, Claudius, has the gift for fleshing the bare bones of history (Kirkus Reviews). The famous poet John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, had a wife, and their story is both strange and tumultuous. Consummate historical novelist and poet Robert Graves tells the story from the perspective of the wife, Marie Powell, a young woman who married the poet to escape a debt. From the start, the couple proves mismatched; Milton is a domineering and insensitive husband set on punishing Marie for not providing the promised dowry. John Milton and his young wife are both religiously and temperamentally incompatible, and this portrait of their relationship is spellbinding, if not distinctly unflattering to Milton. It also provides fascinating accounts of the political upheavals of the time, including the execution of Charles I. This book is an excellent read for fans of historical fiction. &ldquo;Vivid, rich and forthright.&rdquo; &mdash;The Sunday Times</div>

Wife to Mr. Milton

<div>The fiftieth anniversary edition of the renowned author&rsquo;s poems for children&mdash;featuring the original, iconic illustrations. This collection of boisterous and witty children&rsquo;s poems by Robert Graves&mdash;with charming drawings by painter and illustrator Edward Ardizzone&mdash;has enchanted generations of young readers. Celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, the original 1964 edition is now available in this beautiful digital reproduction. These seven timeless poems evoke the world of Victorian England and include the story of Ann, &ldquo;the third-but-youngest child of seventeen&rdquo; who runs away to live at a duke&rsquo;s palace; a valentine in verse; a battle of words lost in translation between King George II and the Chinese Emperor; a doctor&rsquo;s bedside visit to a little girl; and a lively argument between young Caroline and Charles that is strikingly similar to the banter of twenty-first century children. Ann at Highwood Hall is a classic of children&rsquo;s literature that will thrill fans of Robert Graves and poetry lovers of all ages.</div>

Ann at Highwood Hall

<div>Translated from the Latin by the poet and author of I, Claudius, this ancient Roman novel follows the many adventures of a man who transforms into an ass. Driven by his all-consuming curiosity, a young man of good parentage named Lucius Apuleius takes a trip to Thessaly. Along the way, amidst a series of bizarre adventures, he inadvertently offends a priestess of the White Goddess, who promptly turns him into an ass. How Lucius responds to his new misfortune, and ultimately finds a way to become human again, makes for a funny and fascinating tale. The Metamorphosis of Apuleius, referred to by St. Augustine as The Golden Ass, is the oldest novel written in Latin to survive in its entirety. Originally written by Lucius of Patrae, this translation by Robert Graves highlights the ribald humor and vivid sense of adventure present in the original. Providing a rare window into the daily lives of regular people in ancient Greece, Robert Graves&rsquo;s translation of this classic tale is at once hilarious, informative, and captivating.</div>

The Golden Ass

<div>This ancient biographical history of Roman rulers from Julius Caesar to Domitian is translated by the acclaimed classicists and author of I, Claudius. As personal secretary to Emperor Hadrian, the second century scholar Suetonius had unlimited access to the Roman Imperial archives. Drawing on this wealth of source material, he wrote a sweeping account of the lives of Rome&rsquo;s first twelve emperors. From the empire&rsquo;s most accomplished leaders, such as Julius Caesar and Augustus, to its most depraved and doomed rulers, such as Caligula and Nero, this ancient biographical study presents an enlightening and colorful picture of these historical figures from remote antiquity. This edition of The Twelve Caesars is translated from the Latin by the renowned classicist, historian, and historical novelist Robert Graves. With his expertise in classical history and talent for telling a lively story, Graves presents an excellent translation that makes this classic work accessible to modern audiences</div>

Robert Graves
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Books By Robert Graves (20 Books)