Author Description

In the first book on Claudius written in English in over fifty years, Barbara Levick provides a major reassessment of the man and his reign. Drawing on recent research, Levick offers a provocative reconsideration of Claudius's political objectives and activities within the constitutional, political, social, and economic development of Rome. A history of political and domestic intrigue as well as an investigation into the limits of a Roman emperor's power, her book will be essential reading for historians of the Roman Empire. "Barbara Levick provides a new treatment of the reign of Claudius; it is a biography and much more. His reign was the turning point in the establishment of the permanent monarchy, and Levick is excellent in showing how Claudius worked throughout his reign to secure his position.... This stimulating book is the best we have on Claudius and among the best current treatments of any Roman emperor."-Ronald Mellor, American Historical Review "A must read, Claudius has force and wit."-Donald G. Kyle, Classical World "[In this] authoritative but highly readable book the defects and achievements of the... Emperor are assessed critically and with full exploitation of the nonliterary sources-epigraphical, archaeological, and, especially important, numismatic-that often throw light on or raise doubts about the evidence provided by the ancient writers."-Bernard Knox, The Atlantic "[An] excellent study of the... important reign of Claudius.... The... general reader, as well as the scholar, will study [this book] with pleasure as well as with instruction."-Hugh Lloyd-Jones, New York Review of Books