This historical novel is presented as the memoir of Claudius, a member of the Roman imperial family who is lame, stammering and widely dismissed as a fool. Looking back over the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula, he describes the intrigues, rivalries and poisonings that surround the throne. His apparent weakness lets him watch closely while others overlook him. Based on ancient historians such as Suetonius and Tacitus, the book is sharp, funny and dark, and it made ancient Rome feel immediate to a modern audience. It remains one of the best known historical novels in English.