Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina by Robert Graves

Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina by Robert Graves is the celebrated sequel to I, Claudius and one of the defining works of twentieth-century historical fiction. This early Arthur Barker Ltd. hardcover edition is the fifth printing, published in December 1935, following the book’s original publication in November 1934.

Written in the form of an autobiographical account by the Roman Emperor Claudius, Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina continues the remarkable story begun in I, Claudius. Having survived the murderous political intrigues and excesses of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Claudius unexpectedly finds himself Emperor of Rome following the assassination of Caligula. Graves combines documented Roman history with imaginative reconstruction to portray Claudius’s reign, his attempts at political reform, military expansion and his turbulent personal life, including his notorious marriage to Messalina.

Graves drew extensively upon surviving classical sources, transforming the complicated personalities and politics of Imperial Rome into an accessible and compelling narrative. Claudius the God remains widely read and is regarded as an important modern historical novel; the work continues to be published internationally today.

This 1935 fifth printing is particularly attractive as an early British issue from Arthur Barker, the original publisher of the novel. The original edition was bound in black cloth with gilt lettering to the spine, matching the present copy.

Condition – Good

Original black cloth hardcover with gilt spine lettering remaining bright. Moderate shelf and handling wear to the boards. Noticeable age-toning and foxing to the page edges, with scattered foxing internally.