Most Popular Books by Robert Graves

The poet’s “account of trench life . . . still grips the reader,” making his WWI memoir “a classic of English autobiography, and a subversive tour de force” (The Guardian). Goodbye to All That is English poet and soldier Robert Graves’s “bitter leave-taking” of England after his experiences during World War I. A testimony to the shifts in society following the war, the book offers an unsentimental and often satiric account of life as a British Army officer facing the intensity of battle, as well as the personal history that led to his becoming a poet. Finding refuge in Majorca, Graves wrote Goodbye to All That in eleven weeks. His accounts of trench warfare and his descriptions of war atrocities incited controversy, making the book a literary sensation and funding Graves’s vow to “never make England my home again.” Consisting of Graves’s memorable encounters with fellow writers and poets such as Siegfried Sassoon and Thomas Hardy, and the changing societal views on married life, Goodbye to All That, is a classic war memoir and a candid portrait of artistic life.

Considered an idiot because of his physical infirmities, Claudius survived the intrigues and poisonings of the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, and the Mad Caligula to become emporer in 41 A.D.

A modern classic of historical fiction written in the form of Claudius''s autobiography. Claudius the God is the second part of Robert Graves''s two-part account of the life of Tiberius Claudius, "the cripple, the stammerer, the fool of the family" who became Emperor of Rome in spite of himself in 41 A.D. With the same crystalline brilliance that characterizes its classic antecedent, Claudius the God evokes the vitality, splendor, and decadence of Imperial Rome at the beginning of its decline. It is not only a superb re-creation of a colorful moment in history but, through the eyes of the bemused and wry emperor, a compelling and ironic account of human nature as well.

Translated from the Latin by the poet and author of I, Claudius, this ancient Roman novel follows the many adventures of a man who transforms into an ass. Driven by his all-consuming curiosity, a young man of good parentage named Lucius Apuleius takes a trip to Thessaly. Along the way, amidst a series of bizarre adventures, he inadvertently offends a priestess of the White Goddess, who promptly turns him into an ass. How Lucius responds to his new misfortune, and ultimately finds a way to become human again, makes for a funny and fascinating tale. The Metamorphosis of Apuleius, referred to by St. Augustine as The Golden Ass, is the oldest novel written in Latin to survive in its entirety. Originally written by Lucius of Patrae, this translation by Robert Graves highlights the ribald humor and vivid sense of adventure present in the original. Providing a rare window into the daily lives of regular people in ancient Greece, Robert Graves''s translation of this classic tale is at once hilarious, informative, and captivating.

The I, Claudius author''s "lightning sharp interpretations and insights . . . are here brought to bear with equal effectiveness on the Book of Genesis" ( Kirkus Reviews). This is a comprehensive look at the stories that make up the Old Testament and the Jewish religion, including the folk tales, apocryphal texts, midrashes, and other little-known documents that the Old Testament and the Torah do not include. In this exhaustive study, Robert Graves provides a fascinating account of pre-Biblical texts that have been censored, suppressed, and hidden for centuries, and which now emerge to give us a clearer view of Hebrew myth and religion than ever. Venerable classicist and historian Robert Graves recounts the ancient Hebrew stories, both obscure and familiar, with a rich sense of storytelling, culture, and spirituality. This book is sure to be riveting to students of Jewish or Judeo-Christian history, culture, and religion.

Endymion, Pelops, Daedalus, Pygmalion � what are the stories behind these and the hundreds of other familiar names from Greek mythology � names that recur throughout the history of European culture? In a two-volume work that has become a classic reference book for both the serious scholar and the casual inquirer, Robert Graves retells the adventures of the important gods and heroes worshipped by the ancient Greeks. Drawing on an enormous range of sources, he has brought together all the elements of every myth in simple narrative form, supplying detailed cross-references and indexes. Each entry has a full commentary which examines problems of interpretation in both historical and anthropological terms, and in the light of contemporary research.

Gravess text has been fully corrected and revised in this volume as part of the "Robert Graves Programme". The book describes the dynamic of Gravess creative imagination. Grevel Lindop restores to the text its proper order and adds introductory material, as well as notes. This edition should lead to a re-evaluation of Gravess entire oeuvre.

A self-confessed forger, cheat, thief, and petty criminal, William Palmer was also a surgeon and a racehorse owner during the Victorian era who doped horses, fixed races, philandered unapologetically, and generally behaved as an all-around rogue. But the crime for which he was condemned was altogether more serious: poisoning numerous members of his family as well as a close friend. Based on the historic trial of a man characterized as a sociopath and a serial killer, Robert Graves tells the story of a man who was deeply flawed but ultimately not beyond redemption. They Hanged My Saintly Billy is brimming with humor, emotion, and social commentary.

This ancient biographical history of Roman rulers from Julius Caesar to Domitian is translated by the acclaimed classicists and author of I, Claudius. As personal secretary to Emperor Hadrian, the second century scholar Suetonius had unlimited access to the Roman Imperial archives. Drawing on this wealth of source material, he wrote a sweeping account of the lives of Rome''s first twelve emperors. From the empire''s most accomplished leaders, such as Julius Caesar and Augustus, to its most depraved and doomed rulers, such as Caligula and Nero, this ancient biographical study presents an enlightening and colorful picture of these historical figures from remote antiquity. This edition of The Twelve Caesars is translated from the Latin by the renowned classicist, historian, and historical novelist Robert Graves. With his expertise in classical history and talent for telling a lively story, Graves presents an excellent translation that makes this classic work accessible to modern audiences

The author of I, Claudius puts his own twist on the myth of the Argonauts'' quest for the Golden Fleece: "A tour de force . . . A richly tapestried epic" ( Kirkus Reviews). An inventive reimagining of the story of Jason and the Argonauts, this novel by renowned poet and classicist Robert Graves brings heroic figures of Hellenistic myth to life. Graves''s Jason is belligerent, energetic, and full of life, and the society Graves builds for him is outlandish and deeply invested in ancient cults. Against this primitive, religious backdrop, the charismatic Jason assembles a crew and sets out to retrieve the sacred gold-trimmed fleece that is sacred to Zeus, and that has been stolen by worshippers of the Triple Goddess. Accompanying him is Hercules, a brave warrior known more for his brawn, and his astonishingly good luck, than his brains. Robert Graves builds a compelling world that sets Hellenistic magic and mystery in a surprisingly gritty, realistic setting, a fascinating read for fans of Greek mythology. "A witty historical novel with much insider''s lore on cult and ritual." — The New York Review of Books "Richly readable, thoroughly classical yet individually interpreted, this is a labor of love important to students, culture-seekers and readers." — Library Journal

This "vigorous tale" by the acclaimed author of I, Claudius captures the sixth century fall of the Byzantine Empire as seen through the eyes of a servant ( Kirkus Reviews). Threatened by invaders on all sides, the Eastern Roman Empire of the sixth century fought to maintain its borders. Leading its defense was the Byzantine general Belisarius, a man who earned the grudging respect of his enemies, and who rose to become Emperor Justinian''s greatest military leader. Loosely based on Procopius''s History of the Justinian Wars and Secret History, this novel tells the Belisarius''s story through the eyes of Eugenius, a eunuch and servant to the general''s wife. It presents a compelling portrait of a man bound by a strict code of honor and unrelenting loyalty to an emperor who is intelligent but flawed, and whose decisions bring him to a tragic end. Eminent historical novelist and classicist Robert Graves presents a vivid account of a time in history both dissolute and violent, and demonstrates one again his mastery of this historical period. "A brilliant piece of scholarship." — Kirkus Reviews "The scope of the book is massive—encompassing religious controversy and cultural developments as well as military history—yet, throughout, Graves succeeds in blending historical details with the development of his main characters." —Historical Novel Society

"The objects of this autobiography, written at the age of thirty-three, are simple enough: an opportunity for a formal good-bye to you and to you and to you and to me and to all that; forgetfulness, because once all this has been settled in my mind and written down and published it need never be thought about again; money". Thus begins Robert Graves''s classic 1929 autobiography with its searing account of life in the trenches of the First World War; and yet this opening passage, together with much significant material, has been unavailable since 1957, when a middle-aged Graves totally revised his text, robbing it of the painfully raw edge that had helped to make it an international bestseller. By 1957 major changes in his private life had taken place. Graves was no longer living with the American poet Laura Riding, under whose influence and in whose honor the original had been written. By cutting out all references to Riding, by deleting passages which revealed the mental strains under which he had labored, and by meticulously editing the entire text, Graves destroyed most of what had made it so powerful but also removed it from the only context in which it could be fully understood. We are pleased to offer the original 1929 edition on the occasion of Graves''s 100th anniversary, edited and annotated by Robert Graves''s nephew and biographer, whose lucid introduction greatly enhances its value.