Product Description
Two visitors arrive at the abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, wreaking havok within the tiny Benedictine community. A Brother Cadfael mystery. 2 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Good and Valuable Service from the UK
Book arrived in several weeks, as seller said it would.This is a great service.These books aren't available in the U.S. and there are very few used copies around for some reason.Getting a clean, new copy for about $20 in a couple of weeks from the UK is a great service, and I feel lucky to have discovered this seller.Good job..

One of the Better Cadfaels
I enjoyed this Brother Cadfael story. It has a lot of the standard parts that one finds in this series, but with some interesting twists. It is one of the better ones of the series.

Heretical leanings
This is the sixteenth chronicle of Brother Cadfael, ex soldier/crusader, herbalist and healer, lately come monk and incorrigibly inquisitive sleuth. Elave is a young man who has accompanied his master, William of Lythwood,to Jerusalem and the East and who followed his instructions to the letter by bringing home his body after death to be buried at the Abbey Of St.Peter and St.Paul. He also brought with him an elaborately carved chest, with unknown contents, as the dowry for William's foster daughter. Before Elave left with his master on his travels, he had filled the position of what would be known today as an accoutant, keeping stocks of the family's money and possessions. This position was filled in his absence by Aldwin, a dour, pessimistic man who is convinced that he'llbe discarded now that Elave has returned, and so sets about making trouble for him. Aldwin's murdered body is found and suspicions point to Elave as the killer. At this same time, a very self important Canon of the Church is a visitor at the Abbey and when Elave, somewhat in his cups, is heard making what could be taken as heretical statements on points of Church law, the Canon insists that he be taken before a court of the Church and tried for heresy. Brother Cadfael investigates both claims in his methodical way and, once again, saves the day. Perhaps this story is a little too tied up with points of theology for some readers, but it's still a most enjoyable read for Cadfael fans.

Flat Inverted Theology
This is not a book I can recommend.There was no depth of character, or plot.I expected some twists and turns, but it was all predictable.The characters are indelibly flat.Of greatest disappointment were the heresies, for the author just seems to pass by them as unimportant.There are some major Pelagian defects in the thoughts of one of the protagonists, and the magnitude of the defects is swept aside by the characters we are meant to bond with, who decide in favor of the heresy through simple platitudes!The primary character, Cadfael, seems to contribute but little to the book or the mystery, and I found great difficulty in caring for any of these characters at all.

Two for the price of one!
As I was reading this book, I remarked to a friend "how often do you get to read a mystery novel that talks about St. Augustine, infant baptism, co-equality of the Trinity, predestination, and Peripassian heresy?"For those who are not interested in such things, this installment in the Brother Cadefael series might seem somewhat tedious.I for one, however, enjoyed the added intellectual stimulation of the doctrinal controversies.

Aside from the heresy issues, which play a fairly peripheral role in the actual crime in question, this is a fairly standard (by Brother Cadfael standards) murder mystery.As always, romance plays a big role in both the heresy subplot and the murder investigation.

I normally give 4 stars to Brother Cadfael mysteries.I'm giving 5 here for the added value supplied by the heresy issues.Those who have no interest in theology and church history might want to give it a 3.
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Product Description
Could the sudden death of Sir Charles Baskerville have been caused by the gigantic ghostly hound which is said to have haunted his family for generations? Archrationalist Sherlock Holmes characteristically dismisses the theory as nonsense. Claiming to be immersed in another case, he sends Watson to Devon to protect the Baskerville heir and to observe the suspects at close hand... ... Read more

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Product Description
This look at the public and private lives of British royal families brings the English monarchs to life through their diaries and speeches and through observations by their contemporaries. A finalist for a British Talkie Award for 2001, this audio is by the authors of Shakespeare: His Life and His Work, winner of the 2001 Benjamin Franklin Award. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

a gift
bought this as a gift for someone who has always been in love with old England! She enjoyed the book.

Annoyingly concise yet fascinating overview of the royals
Unfortunately this series, especially the second tape, assumes the listerner already has a basic knowledge of the history presented.Readings from the monarch's actual letters,etc., prove annoying on repeated listening.At the same time, Derek Jacobi's reading is wonderful and these tapes present an excellent, if occasionally mystifying, overview of the kings and queens of England and their triumphs, mistakes and tribulations. Worth repeated listenings with liberal use of the fast forward button.

Far too short but immensely entertaining
Given a recording with a title like "1000 Years of English Royalty: William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II," one might expect several miles of tapes with a very fast talking narrator supplying the facts. Audio Partners, however,has done the next best thing andboiled it all down to 1 hour and 54 minutes with Derek Jacobi doing the honors with a small cast reading from the chronicles and other sources of the times.

Actually, it would help if you had a fairly good idea of English history to begin with and simply used this tape both as a refreshener and source of interesting extra details. Those plunging into the material cold will enjoy it but might easily get confused.

This abridgment, written and produced by Richard Hampton and Davis Weston, makes a set of Monarch Notes (no pun intended) seem complete. But what facts are included are well chosen, often very funny (i.e., the size of George IV's stomach),and never less than fascinating. Jacobi is the perfect narrator with his faultless diction and (to say the least) flair for the dramatic. This set helped to shorten a very boring drive I had to take recently; and I think I will play it all again in the next few weeks just to catch anything I might have missed. A lot of fun from Audio Partners. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Jacobi returns heard but not seen in one of the BEST of the audio CADFAELS!
I have always believed that the BBC made the finest adaptations for radio and television, and indeed the BROTHER CADFAEL series is no exception; Bert Coules (who most recently adapted Sherlock Holmes for BBC radio) and the fine actor Philip Madoc brought Cadfael to life in three adaptations which are well worth listening to if you can: MONKS HOOD, THE VIRGIN INN THE ICE and DEAD MAN'S RANSOM.However, Sir Derek Jacobi was an excellent Cadfael for television ... even if some of the teleplays didn't quite follow the plot of the original novels.Acorn Audio did something quite extraordinary when they turned the audio tracks of the four teleplays of the first Cadfael TV series into an audio series, adding a narrator to fill in the gaps and adding some slight commentary on the action which could not be seen on an audiotape; in doing so, they tightened up the narrative to keep the stories moving at a good clip so that the listener would not lose interest, and Stephen Flynn's narration is well-read and well-written. This story was the second story in the first series of TV Cadfael mysteries, and in my opinion was one of the best in the entire series, whether seen on TV or heard in this format (indeed this particular tape is in my opinion the best of the four enhanced audio track tapes!).I am sorry that Acorn Audio hasn't adapted the rest of the televised Cadfael stories into this format, and the only grievance I have is that the cast of characters is not read out at the end of each story (all we get to know is that Sir Derek Jacobi plays Brother Cadfael, when there are some fine actors in each of the stories).This is something entirely new, coming somewhere in between actual radio drama and books-on-tape, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the Brother Cadfael series.The listener will not lose anything by not seeing the action on a TV screen, and the acting you will HEAR combined with the narration will definitely provide an ejoyable listening experience.

Murder 'Mongst the Monks
The plot is based upon one of the most well-known (and disliked) traditions of medieval times - the arranged marriage. In this case, it is especially repugnant, with the bride being eighteen and the groom nearly sixty. Add to this greedy and domineering guardians and three personable young squires, and it is easy to guess what will happen. However, there are unseen twists and turns to this novel that overcome the cliché of the arranged marriage.
Iveta de Massard is orphaned, and her guardians, her aunt and uncle Agnes and Godfrid Picard, betroth her to Sir Huon de Domville, in exchange for control over some of Iveta's properties. Iveta, granddaughter to a respected knight who died during the Crusades, falls in love with Joscelin Lucy, one of de Domville's squires. Joscelin is dismissed, after being found in the company of Iveta, and is then framed for theft - a missing necklace is found among his belongings (slightly parodied as being an old trick, but still an effective one). He escapes, and is helped, first by one of the squires, then by Lazarus and the other lepers of Saint Giles' hospital.
On his wedding eve, de Domville rides off alone into the night. After failing to return for his wedding, he is discovered, murdered, in the forest. Joscelin is, of course, accused. But while searching for the squire, Picard is also murdered. Is there one murderer, or two? Brother Cadfael must answer this question, and prove Joscelin's innocence. To do this, he must first discover where Sir Huon spent his last night. Cadfael must also work out who is Lazarus, and why he is so interested in the wedding.
The series uses recurring characters to create continuity. We already know how these characters will act, and this allows Peters to flesh out the new characters. Brother Mark, Cadfael's former assistant, has moved to Saint Giles, while Brother Oswin, a likeable but clumsy novice, is Cadfael's new assistant. Avice of Thornbury, an independent, wise, and worldly woman, (beautifully written), is introduced. She is Sir Huon's mistress of twenty years, who becomes a Benedictine nun after his death. Without using stereotypes, Peters contrasts the innocent, browbeaten maiden to the worldly and independent mistress, the old, indifferent bridegroom to the young and passionate lover, an untrustworthy squire to a dutiful squire, and unloving relatives to a loving and protective grandfather.
The Leper of Saint Giles is not as action-packed or as fast-moving as many contemporary mysteries - it moves at a slower pace to reflect the slower lifestyle of the time. It is also set over a smaller period of time, and so is more descriptive and detailed. The plot has been well-planned and well-woven together, with one slight oversight. The planted necklace is glossed over at the resolution - it is never really stated whose idea it was to plant it on Joscelin. A trivial oversight, but one that can annoy. Overall, one of her better books, with many interesting twists and characters. ... Read more

Product Description
The Macedonian army marches ever onward in search of glory, crushing resistance at every turn. The culture and beauty of Babylon is quickly ravaged and the Palace of Persepolis burnt to ashes and cinders. An empire is destroyed and a new and bloody era begins. But there are other things on Alexander's mind. An ambitious project to unite the peoples of the empire in one homeland begins to obsess him. There are rebellions and bloodshed, but the curious beauty of Queen Roxanna gives Alexander the strength to fulfil his destiny...Compelling, exciting and romantic, this is the breathtaking conclusion to the bestselling "Alexander" trilogy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

BROTHER CADFAEL's 1st TV mystery ... heard but not seen!
I have always believed that the BBC made the finest adaptations for radio and television, and indeed the BROTHER CADFAEL series is no exception; Bert Coules (who most recently adapted Sherlock Holmes for BBC radio) and the fine actor Philip Madoc brought Cadfael to life in three adaptations which are well worth listening to if you can: MONKS HOOD, THE VIRGIN INN THE ICE and DEAD MAN'S RANSOM.However, Sir Derek Jacobi was an excellent Cadfael for television ... even if some of the teleplays didn't quite follow the plot of the original novels.Acorn Audio did something quite extraordinary when they turned the audio tracks of the four teleplays of the first Cadfael TV series into an audio series, adding a narrator to fill in the gaps and adding some slight commentary on the action which could not be seen on an audiotape; in doing so, they tightened up the narrative to keep the stories moving at a good clip so that the listener would not lose interest, and Stephen Flynn's narration is well-read and well-written. This story, ONE CORPSE TOO MANY, was the first of the TV Cadfael mysteries (despite the fact that the book it was based on was the SECOND in the series), and is a good way to introduce Brother Cadfael, played wonderfully by Derek Jacobi, and his soon-to-be comrade and best friend Hugh Beringar.I am sorry that Acorn Audio hasn't adapted the rest of the televised Cadfael stories into this format, and the only grievance I have is that the cast of characters is not read out at the end of each story (all we get to know is that Sir Derek Jacobi plays Brother Cadfael, when there are some fine actors in each of the stories).This is something entirely new, coming somewhere in between actual radio drama and books-on-tape, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the Brother Cadfael series.The listener will not lose anything by not seeing the action on a TV screen, and the acting you will HEAR combined with the narration will definitely provide an ejoyable listening experience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

DEREK JACOBI RETURNS AS "CLAUDIUS" TO BRING ANCIENT ROME TO LIFE!
There are certain people who, after creating a role on television based on a character in literature, make such an impression as that character that the mere mention of that character brings that actor or actress's name and face to mind ... and Sir Derek Jacobi's portrayal of Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus "this-that-and-the-other" in the BBC TV series I, CLAUDIUS based on the two novels I, CLAUDIUS and CLAUDIUS THE GOD by Robert Graves is in the forefront of such portrayals.In 1980, Dove Audio decided to bring the Graves novels to audiobook form, and the absolutely best idea they had for the narrator was to ask Sir Derek to recreate his role as "Claudius", which he does magnificently!Sir Derek has even remembered to include Claudius' stammer as he tells us Claudius' autobiography from his birth during the reign of Augustus Caesar up until the moment when he is elected (against his will) as the fourth Emperor of Rome.Sir Derek's wonderful voice and vocal inflections bring Claudius to life as he recounts all the details of the history of Rome behind the history ... all the things that the official historians either never knew, overlooked or deliberately buried!But Claudius, who managed to cleverly survive THREE reigns before he got stuck with the job, is deliberately writing for US, the people of future posterity, sees no need for secrecy and takes us the reader/listener step by step through the Roman military campaigns, the private lives of the Roman aristocracy, and the various plots and murders of those men (and women too!) trying to claw their way to the Imperial throne AND those who were already there trying to keep themselves there!

The only thing I have to complain about this audio version is that while it is extremely satisfying to listen to, it is an Abridged version, but in the slightly-more-than-two hours that the recording lasts you the listener will never be bored!You may miss the overtly sexual scenes and acts that the TV series showed, but Claudius never glosses over that partin his narrative, and Sir Derek's voice expertly conveys not only the professional historian that Claudius was (in the novels, anyway!) but also a great deal of Claudius' emotion, especially when he speaks of those near and dear to him whose lives end ... well, prematurely.Defintely a MUST for any audiobook collection! ... Read more

Product Description
In the 1840s, Lewis Raycie's domineering father sends him to Europe to buy art. When he selects Italian primitives, not yet recognized as masterpieces, his appalled father disinherits him, only to discover, too late, the wisdom of his son's intuition. "There are only three or four American novelists who can be thought of as 'major' - and Edith Wharton is one." - Gore Vidal ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"Here's to the Grand Tour."
When Lewis Raycie, at age twenty-one, is sent abroad for two years to "form his taste [and] fortify his judgment," his father gives him five thousand dollars to purchase fine art on his father's behalf.His father's tastes are those of his upperclass friends, unformed by personal interest or study, and he especially hopes that Lewis will acquire a Raphael, since Raphaels are in vogue among his friends. In Italy, however, Lewis purchases Italian "primitives" by Giotto, Piero Della Francesca, Mantegna, and Carpaccio, paintings he loves and which he believes will form a stunning foundation for his father's gallery.

Though Lewis has, in fact, "formed his taste and fortified his judgment," exactly what he was expected to do in his tour of Europe, his father is outraged when he sees these paintings, all by artists he considers inferior--he has never heard of them and none of his friends collect them--and Lewis is disinherited.The novella follows Lewis and his wife Treeshy as they deal with the personal and social consequences of Lewis's art purchases.

The first of Wharton's four "Old New York" novellas, set in ten-year intervals between 1840 and 1870, False Dawn is as careful in its depiction of the New York society of the 1840s as Wharton's more famous novels are of their (later) periods.The artificiality of society, its reliance on stultifying social conventions, and the penchant for social competition are vividly illustrated here, and these themes combine with Wharton's vivid descriptions of places and people to give a liveliness to her depiction of this pre-Civil War era.

Lewis's ineffectual mother has inherited most of the family's resources, but she has turned them over to her husband, typical behavior of women of the era, and his sisters with their concern for their own reputations in the face of Lewis's ostracism show the degree to which social acceptance may be more important than family love.Only Lewis's wife Treeshy, who is both a social outcast and a homely, unfashionable woman, illustrates love and family values.

Though this is not as long as other Wharton novels, Wharton tells a compelling story, keeping her focus on Lewis and his family, rather than on the broader swath of society.In this sense this novel is more intimate and personal than some of Wharton's other novels.On the other hand, its narrower focus, however representative of the times, leads to a less expansive interpretation of familiar themes.As Wharton brings the resolution of the novella up to date by tracing the paintings to the present, the struggles of Lewis and Treeshy for social and intellectual independence achieve even greater poignancy. nMary Whipple
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Customer Reviews (1)

I, CLAUDIUS
I, Claudius is beautifully written by Robert Graves. It gives us (the Readers) "a front row Seat" into the complicated and often "endangered" lives of the thePresent and Future Emperors of the Roman Empire and their Cohorts and Families... and their Enemies.
I, Claudius is informative and earns merits as a "Great Read".
In the Video of "I, Claudius" the storyline and the Characters remain absolutely true to the novel. It is well worth viewing.

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Customer Reviews (2)

BROTHER CADFAEL ....heard but not seen, and heard well!
I have always believed that the BBC made the finest adaptations for radio and television, and indeed the BROTHER CADFAEL series is no exception; Bert Coules (who most recently adapted Sherlock Holmes for BBC radio) and the fine actor Philip Madoc brought Cadfael to life in three adaptations which are well worth listening to if you can: MONKS HOOD, THE VIRGIN INN THE ICE and DEAD MAN'S RANSOM.However, Sir Derek Jacobi was an excellent Cadfael for television ... even if some of the teleplays didn't quite follow the plot of the original novels.Acorn Audio did something quite extraordinary when they turned the audio tracks of the four teleplays of the first Cadfael TV series into an audio series, adding a narrator to fill in the gaps and adding some slight commentary on the action which could not be seen on an audiotape; in doing so, they tightened up the narrative to keep the stories moving at a good clip so that the listener would not lose interest, and Stephen Flynn's narrations are well-read and well-written. I am sorry that Acorn Audio hasn't adapted the rest of the televised Cadfael stories into this format, and the only grievance I have is that the cast of characters is not read out at the end of each story (all we get to know is that Sir Derek Jacobi plays Brother Cadfael, when there are some fine actors in each of the stories).This is something entirely new, coming somewhere in between actual radio drama and books-on-tape, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the Brother Cadfael series.The listener will not lose anything by not seeing the action on a TV screen, and the acting you will HEAR combined with the narration will definitely provide an ejoyable listening experience.

Cadfael
-Derek Jacobi takes the lead in the role of Brother Cadfael. In theCadfael box set, four television episodes are soundtrack recorded with anarrator. Vocally, these four stories are wonderful pieces of fiction.However, even with a narrator, it sounds as if we are missing something.The production values are excellent, since these are the Brother Cadfael TVseries which ran on PBS . . . But on audio, it sounds hollow . . . ... Read more

Product Description
At the monastery in Shrewsbury in 1138, Brother Cadfael's workshop shelves boast all sorts of medication for every kind of ailment. When Gervase Bonel is poisoned with one of them, the monk finds suspicion has fallen on someone he is certain is innocent. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Brother Cadfael encounters his past.
Ellis Peters reveals a bit more about Brother Cadfael's life before he entered the abbey.Of course there is a murder which Brother Cadfael solves.A particularly distressing aspect is that the murder takes place in the abbey's guest house and the poison is from Cadfael's own laboratory.Another good mystery in the series.

Reunion With an Old Love
MONK'S HOOD by the late Ellis Peters is the third volume in this outstanding medieval mystery series.
Father Cadfael encounters an old love in the wife of a murder man. Is she guilty of killing her husband or is her young son by her first marriage the culprit. It is up to the good father to untangle the twists strands of complex human emotions and their desire to retain what was promised to them.
A fine read.
Nash Black, author of Indie finalists WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and HAINTS.

Monk's Hood - Third Chronicle of Brother Cadfael
I love these books! Especially good for herb lovers.

Great Development in an Interesting Story
Now that I've finished Monk's Hood, I have found a new appreciation for Ellis Peters' work.After one death too many, I was expecting a rather static setting that would seem to change, but in truth, it would really change from book to book.I am definitely the product of watching too many American sitcoms and am glad my expectation was not met.

The story begins with Father Abbot Heribert leaving Shrewsbury to a council being held to reassess the leadership of the Church in England.He believes is going to be replaced so he leaves any legal matters unsigned so the new Abbot could determine the course of things once appointed.In the meantime, the Bonel household was going to cede its holdings to the abbey in exchange for a quiet retirement.The contract was left unsigned by the Abbot and shortly after Gervase Bonel, the head of the household, was murdered by way of poison, a medicine called Monk's Hook made by Cadfael himself.

The book is filled with a wonderful assortment of characters.None of which are good or bad.They have their own strengths, aspirations and failings.Once of things I enjoy about the Cadfael stories is he passes very little judgment against others (Brother Jerome and Prior Robert being exceptions).We have a new assistant - Brother Mark, his former fiancé - Richaldis, the return of Hugh Beringer, not to mention a number others.Even the murderer in the end is a many Cadfael felt sympathy for and helps.Yes, there is a sense of right and wrong in these books, but the means to right are often rather unorthodox and thus enjoyable.

I would recommend this book to anyone continuing to read the stories of Cadfael.They would appeal to a mystery reader and perhaps a fantasy reader as well.Definitely someone who likes historical fiction.I know I am well hooked into the series now.

Wasn't this a tasty dish?
Brother Cadfael is both pleased and displeased when his old love, Richildis, arrives at the Abbey with her husband, to take up residence as a permanent lodger. In return for permanent food, shelter and all things comfortable, Richildis's husband, Gervase Bonel, proposes to deed the ownership of his manor to the Abbey, a fact which does not sit well with his stepson, Edwin, to whom was promised ownership of the manor. In old age, Gervase had grown cantankerous and had taken a spiteful pleasure in goading Edwin into a rage about reneging on his promise of passing on the ownership of the manor to him. After eating a highly spiced and sauced dish of partridge, Gervase dies, and suspicion immediately falls on Edwin. The dish was poisoned with monkshood, an oil made of which, was brewed by Cadfael to use as a liniment for the old and arthritic monks. As usual in a Cadfael story, there are several characters who have equal reason and opportunity to have committed the murder, so it's up to Cadfael to sort out the mystery. It's another fascinating story, set in the 12th century, with a wealth of detail about mediaeval life and with Brother Cadfael sorting out the clues. ... Read more

Product Description
Robert Graves begins anew the tumultuous life of the Roman who became emporer in spite of himself. Captures the vitality, splendor, and decadence of the Roman world at the point of its decline.


From the Trade Paperback edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Claudius rthe God
I ordered this book as a replacement for one I wore out and I still read


Graves, a great author, the best of historical fiction.

Good Follow-up to My Favorite All-time Book!
This book is the sequel to "I Claudius" which is my all-time favorite book.Though not quite up to that first book in intrigue and overall flow, it is still a great book in its own right.

There is a lot of rich descriptions of battles undertaken by the now Emperor Claudius that stretch for many pages.Also, Claudius has to deal with the betrayal of his friend Herod as well as his scheming wife Messalina (along with her debaucheries) while Claudius' advisor Pallus is also trying to usurp him.

Claudius' grand scheme to eliminate the monarchy and restore the Republic spawns the evil Nero (though he is not quite as evil as Caligula).Should not be missed!

DEREK JACOBI RETURNS AS "CLAUDIUS" TO COMPLETE THE TALE OF ANCIENT ROME!
There are certain people who, after creating a role on television based on a character in literature, make such an impression as that character that the mere mention of that character brings that actor or actress's name and face to mind ... and Sir Derek Jacobi's portrayal of Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus "this-that-and-the-other" in the BBC TV series I, CLAUDIUS based on the two novels I, CLAUDIUS and CLAUDIUS THE GOD by Robert Graves is in the forefront of such portrayals. In 1980, Dove Audio decided to bring the Graves novels to audio book form, and the absolutely best idea they had for the narrator was to ask Sir Derek to recreate his role as "Claudius", which he did magnificently in the audio book I, CLAUDIUS and now returns (again even remembering to include Claudius' stammer) to complete Claudius' autobiography from his unwilling election (courtesy of the Roman Army!) to become the fourth Emperor of Rome to just before his death in 54 A.D. (at the hands of his fourth wife, although this historical fact is NOT contained in the audio book!), which he tells his audience that he expects at any moment. Sir Derek's wonderful voice and vocal inflections bring Claudius to life as he recounts all the details of the history of Rome behind the history ... all the things that the official historians either never knew, overlooked or deliberately buried! But Claudius, who managed to cleverly survive THREE reigns before he got stuck with the job, is deliberately writing for US, the people of future posterity, sees no need for secrecy and takes us the reader/listener step by step through the Roman military campaigns, the private lives of the Roman aristocracy, and the various plots and murders of those men (and women too!) trying to claw their way to the Imperial throne AND those who were already there trying to keep themselves there!

The only thing I have to complain about this audio version is that while it is extremely satisfying to listen to, it is an Abridged version, but in the slightly-more-than-two hours that the recording lasts you the listener will never be bored! You may miss the overtly sexual scenes and acts that the TV series showed, but Claudius never glosses over that part in his narrative, and Sir Derek's voice expertly conveys not only the professional historian that Claudius was (in the novels, anyway!) but also a great deal of Claudius' emotion, especially in this half of his story when he is faced with the ultimate betrayals by those nearest and dearest to him. Definitely a MUST for any audio book collection!

A cynical and sad tale, beautifully written
This novel, like its antecedent I, Claudius, will mesmerize those who love classical history, although casual readers may find it tedious. The two works together form a fictional autobiography of the Roman emperor Claudius, who - at least in this literary incarnation -is both an astute observer of first century Roman political society and an extraordinary character in his own right.Born into the Roman imperial family but repelled by the violence and treachery surrounding it,Claudius retreats from power for much of his adult life. He buries himself in obscure academic pursuits and hides, for what he believes to be his own safety, behind array of weird physical disabilities. When his nephew, the mad emperor Caligula,meets his just reward, the middle-aged Claudius is literally dragged against his will onto the Imperial throne.I, Claudius ends with this bizarre scene and Claudius the God takes up from there with the improbable emperor's own account of his reign up to point of his death.Much to everyone's surprise, Claudius emerges into the public eye as an energetic, able and just ruler. And while the great pride he takes in his enterprise is evident, both the style of his rule and the tone of his narrative is characterized by a wry and self-deprecating humor. Much of the book consists of a detailed recounting of the administrative, judicial and military minutia in which Claudius immersed himself.However, there is a deeper theme at work too, which is the inevitability that innocence in a corrupt world will be betrayed. Claudius's closest friend for much of his life is Herod Agrippa, the grandson of the biblical Herod the Great. Herod Agrippa is a charming rogue and schemer who, while genuinely fond of Claudius, teases him mercilessly for being a fool and warns him, as it turns out in all seriousness, to "trust no one". The irony in the admonition is apparent when Herod himself betrays Claudius, plotting militarily against him and almost succeeding.This is only a side story, however. The thematic climax of the book occurs when it comes to light that Claudius's beautiful wife Messalina, whom he adores with the intense innocence of a teenager in love, has been using him all along for the fool, taking lovers and mocking Claudius behind his back. He finally discovers the truth when she is foundto be conspiring with one of these paramours to seize the throne. She is executed for her treachery, but Claudius's spirit dies with her. He re-marries, but to a woman he cares nothing aboutand who, with his knowledge and acquiescence - for his death has been foretold by augury -begins amassing power on her own and conspiring to make way for her own son by a previous marriage. This son is later to enter history as the decadent fiddler Nero.The book closes with actual historical accounts by Tacitus and Dio Cassius of the real-life emperor's death at the hands ofhis ambitious wife, who poisons him. The last pages give us the final degradation, a bitterly satirical account Seneca, depicting Claudius - in death, once again the fool - trying to enter Olympus as the deified emperor but being banished mockingly to Hades by the other gods.The book is cynical and deeply sad. It's beautifully written and I recommend it, although it won't be to everyone's taste. ... Read more