I, Claudius by Robert Graves is a fictional autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius. Weak, stammering, and considered harmless by his powerful family, Claudius is ignored and underestimated, which allows him to survive the deadly politics of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
Through his eyes, the reader witnesses the conspiracies, betrayals, and murders that shape the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, and Caligula. While chaos and cruelty dominate the imperial court, Claudius quietly observes and records the truth in secret.
After Caligula is assassinated, Claudius is unexpectedly proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard. His rise marks the end of his life as an overlooked outsider and the beginning of an unwilling rule over Rome.