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I, Claudius

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About this listen

 A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Robert Graves' brilliant account of the madness and debauchery of ancient Rome, starring Tom Goodman Hill as Claudius and Derek Jacobi as Augustus. The wickedly entertaining inside story of the lives and deaths of the Imperial dynasty from Augustus to Caligula is told by their obscure relation, Claudius. In public, Claudius is a stammering, drooling weakling, whose reputation as an idiot keeps him safe from office and assassination. But in private, he's as sharp as they come, and keeps a secret history of everything he discovers. Until one day, as one of the few of his family left alive, he's acclaimed Emperor against his will. Can he save Rome from the corruption he's grown to detest? Featuring Derek Jacobi (who won a BAFTA for his performance as Claudius in the acclaimed 1977 BBC television production) as Augustus, and with an all-star cast, this gripping dramatisation will enthral anyone who loves the decadence of Ancient Rome. Biographical Fiction Classics Genre Fiction Scary Funny
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Really only gets going with Caligula. Some of the Mockney soldiers I could have done without. Not a patch on the TV series but not a bad listen.

Good in Parts

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I first heard this on the radio, and have listened to it many times since. Great story. And a great cast.

One of my favourites.

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This captures the essence of the original BBC series with perhaps a little more humour and colour thrown in. Tom Goodman Hill is every bit as Claudius as Derek Jacobi was, and that's no mean feat. I wish there were more parts to this dramatisation but sadly there aren't. I'll just have to listen again...and again...and again.

One more thing: this Caligula is more 'Horrible Histories' than John Hurt's terrifying original portrayal but deliciously camp and slightly sinister nonetheless.

Overall, highly recommended.

Can't wait to listen to this again

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Fantastic radio drama... captivating. I did not want the play to end. More of this please.

Amazing

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A Roman soap opera with a rapidly multiplying body count, this is the story of stammering historian Claudius, who finds himself caught up in endless Machiavellian plots as his scheming relatives fight for power. It’s shocking, funny, and extremely listenable. In the earlier stages, the large cast meant I sometimes struggled to keep track of who was who - and who was killing who! But stick with it: the last two to three hours in particular are addictive and gripping. A classic.

Tales of power, passion, plots - and poison

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