Claudius The God (I, Claudius)

Jacobi's brilliant delivery of Claudius's inner thoughts gives...a vital reality. * * The Observer * *

Read in the style of a secret diary, this famous sequel to I, Claudius gives a wry and human view of the Roman world, bringing to life some of the most scandalous and violent times in history. Claudius has survived the murderous intrigues of his predecessors to become, reluctantly, Emperor of Rome. He recounts his surprisingly successful rule; how he cultivates loyalty of the army to repair the damage caused by his nephew Caligula; his friendship with the Jewish King Herod Agrippa; and his invasion of Britain. Yet beneath the surface Claudius' good fortune is under threat. With the growing paranoia of absolute power, and his young wife Messalina causing trouble, how long can Claudius survive? Sir Derek Jacobi narrates; the only true voice of Claudius, having played him in the 1976 BBC series. Jacobi is a beloved stage and screen actor.