Its hard to imagine a less dysfunctional family than the julioclaudians. Robert graves i, claudius is one of those classics that is so well written that it could presented in any medium and this is certainly true with this audio book claudius the god. Played by derek jacobi, its a performance that spans wideeyed youth and weary old age. New derek jacobi and ian mckellen see more ian richardson. Derek jacobi is one of britains leading actors, having made his mark on stage, film and television and notably on audiobook.
Consequently, it will feature a different storyline from the 1976 version. Similarly, caligula was 22 years younger than his uncle and successor claudius. Theatre the most wellknown adoption for the stage is the one made by the english screenwriter john mortimer for a 1972 production of i, claudius. Audible audiobooks select your cookie preferences we use cookies and similar tools to enhance your shopping experience, to provide our services, understand how customers use our services so we can make improvements, and display ads, including interestbased ads. Derek jacobi returns to the role that defined his career when he starred in the 1976 masterpiece theatre miniseries i, claudius. Apr 25, 2012 except, that is, for claudius himself. In 2001, he provided the voice of duke theseus in the childrens midsummer nights dream film. Claudius was 53 years younger than his greatuncle augustus. Jacobi has narrated audio book versions of the iliad, the voyage of the. He has toured in becket and uncle vanya, and he received a tony award for his performance as benedick in the rscs production of much ado about nothing. I, claudius by robin brooks meet your next favorite book. Theatre the most wellknown adoption for the stage is the one made by the english screenwriter john mortimer for a 1972 production of i, claudius starring david warner as the emperor. As a fan of both the book and the classic bbc tv miniseries starring derek jacobi, i couldnt resist trying out this audio drama version of i, claudius especially as it stars some of the great british theater actors, including jacobi as augustus, and it recently won an audie award for full cast recordings. Jacobi is so strong in this role, it seems created especially for him.
Im happy to say it was, so much so that i started on claudius, the god, and his wife messalina, the sequel. Mar 27, 2012 before all the bitch characters that became so popular in the eighties, we have livia, the queen of bitches. Claudius forth wife was julia agrippina, known to us as agrippina the younger. Derek jacobi audiobooks audiobook narrator download. Sir derek jacobi has had a long and distinguished career. This is gripping stuff, read by one of our finest actors, who also starred as claudius in the classic television series. In 2010, he returned to i, claudius, as augustus in a radio adaptation. Jan 06, 2011 a bbc radio 4 fullcast dramatisation of robert graves brilliant account of the madness and debauchery of ancient rome, starring tom goodman hill as claudius and derek jacobi as augustus. I, claudius is a fully realized look at well, the life of claudius, a roman emperor in real life. Dec 15, 2017 neil gaiman has revealed that sir derek george jacobi will be playing the metatron, the voice of god in the upcoming adaptation of his and the late sir terry pratchetts novel good omens a long. I, claudius by robert graves read by derek jacobi makes a ripping yarn the guardianhistorical novel with a human focus.
In just 6 almost hour long instalments the book is brought to life by a stellar cast and i dont say that lightly. Derek jacobi early life, career, shakespeare authorship. In the early 2000s jacobi toured internationally for a production of the hollow crown with sir donald sinden, ian richardson and dame diana rigg. Once you get past the fact that derek jacobi is not portraying claudius and lets face it, he will always be claudius even if another actor voices the role, this was a wonderful audio adaption of robert graves books.
Derek jacobi as claudius, brian blessed as augustus, patrick stewart with hair as sejanus and so many others. Stacy 1192014 romans conniving, plotting, and killing each other until our narrator is the last one standing and becomes empereor. Jun 03, 2020 derek jacobi sir derek jacobi cbe jacobi onstage performing a voyage round my father at wyndhams theatre, london december 2006. I, claudius by robert graves read by derek jacobi makes a ripping yarn the guardian historical novel with a human focus. Im a huge fan of the tv adaptation with derek jacobi, but the pacing of i, claudius was difficult and annoying. Derek jacobi and i, claudius tv series see more ian mckellen. His work in television includes the lead roles in cadfael and i, claudius, and his film credits include henry v, gosford park, and hamlet. I, claudius is a 1976 bbc television adaptation of robert gravess 1934 novel i, claudius and its 1935 sequel claudius the god. Robert gravess book is a amazing piece of fiction in my option, in a world of not a whole lot of first person accounts of the roman life. In real life, derek jacobi is two years younger than brian blessed. Derek jacobi hollywood actor, actors, dr frankenstein. He details a lot of great stories around these moments in his 2014 memoir, as luck would have it.
Dec 30, 2020 jacobi has narrated audio book versions of the iliad, the voyage of the dawn treader by c. Nov 06, 1977 with derek jacobi, john hurt, sian phillips, brian blessed. Listen free to i, claudius by robert graves with a free trial. Claudius the god and his wife messalina book by robert graves. Jacobi has narrated audio book versions of the iliad, the. Derek jacobi wonderfully reclaims his role as the man who survived the intrigues of his scheming and violent family in the first novel, only to see the julio. After his film debut in othello 1965, he appeared in three sisters 1970. He is also the narrator for the bbc childrens series in the night garden. Ian william richardson, 7 april 19349 february 2007 was a scottish actor of film, stage and television.
His extensive theatrical credits, from londons west end to broadway, include. Study for a portrait of francis bacon 1998, and gladiator 2000. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most. Born derek george jacobi 19381022 22 october 1938 age 78 leytonstone, london, england nationality british alma mater st. Derek jacobi is an english actor as well as stage director. Derek jacobi performed two separate readings of the novel, both as abridged versions, one for dove audio 1986 and one for csa word 2007. Agatha christie one, two, buckle my shoe audiobook full. First published in 1934, the book retains a marvelously modern and often comic tone, and is written in the form of claudius autobiography.
Genealogy for derek george jacobi family tree on geni, with over 200 million. Book description a bbc radio 4 fullcast dramatisation of robert graves brilliant account of the madness and debauchery of ancient rome, starring tom goodman hill as claudius and derek jacobi as augustus. Derek jacobi project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. First published in 1934 and written in the form of a secret autobiography, it endures as one of. Narrated by derek jacobi, full cast, and tom goodmanhill. Jacobi has narrated audio book versions of the iliad, the voyage of the dawn treader by c. As for cadfael, sadly i discovered the audio books then the books first, and he is so far from the original in physicality and manner i cant warm to it.
I, claudius by robert graves, 1982, decca recording co. Ever since we watched i claudius in latin class in junior high, ive been hooked. Jacobi has also done the narration for an audio book version of the iliad. Derek jacobi foreword of shakespeare by another name. At the age of six, derek made his acting debut, playing both lead roles in a local library production of the prince and the swineherd. I remember reading the book in high school and then watching the tv miniseries with derek jacobi. I, claudius is robert graves riveting account of ancient rome in all of its madness and debauchery. And sian philips finds there a role that suits heur grandeur as an actress. Tom goodmanhill is wonderful as claudius narrating his life story and he has just the right inflection to portray claudius nervous stutter equalling the wonderful derek jacobi who ironically portrays augustus on this cd set. I, claudius plunges you into a world of intrigues, murder, cruelty, and vice in short a world in which poison is queen. Despised as a weakling and dismissed as an idiot, claudius survived the intrigues and poisonings that marked the reigns of augustus, tiberius, and caligula, to. Sir derek jacobi to play the voice of god in good omens tv series. His work in television includes the lead roles in cadfael and i, claudius, and his film credits include henry v, gosford park, and. The wickedly entertaining inside story of the lives and deaths of the imperial dynasty from augustus to caligula is told by their obscure relation, claudius.
Derek jacobi wonderfully reclaims his role as the man who survived the intrigues of his scheming and violent family in the first novel, only to see the julioclaudian tradition of murder and mayhem continue during his own reign. Mar 02, 2018 like jacobi s claudius, tony soprano paul gandolfini is an unlikely, even reluctant leader. It is no coincidence that the familys matriarch nancy marchland is called livia, almost equally. The history of the roman empire as experienced by one of its rulers. This was followed by his appearances in the hits the day of the jackal 1973, dead again 1991, love is the devil. The hbobbc version of the classic show will be based on two other books that graves wrote with claudius as the protagonist. Sir ian murray mckellen born 25 may 1939 is an english actor. Jacobi has narrated audio book versions of the iliad, the voyage of the dawn. A bbc radio 4 fullcast dramatisation of robert graves brilliant account of the madness and debauchery of ancient rome, starring tom goodman hill as claudius and derek jacobi as augustus. This book is an excellent way to acquaint yourself with the character of rome at the dawn of the first century. Derek jacobi recorded an abridged version for dove audio in 1986, followed by another abridged version for csa word in 2007. A forceful, commanding stage presence, 1 jacobi has enjoyed a successful stage career, appearing in such stage productions as hamlet, 2 uncle vanya, 3 and oedipus the king.
I, claudius by robert graves cdaudio, 2007 for sale. In 2002, richardson joined sir derek jacobi, sir donald sinden, and dame. He is particularly known for the roles of i claudius and brother caedfael, both of which he has recorded for audiobook. Jacobi also played the role of senator gracchus in gladiator. An acclaimed stage actor, who has also appeared in many films, such as henry v, dead again, gladiator, gosford park, the golden compass, the kings speech and my week with marilyn. Jacobi has narrated audio book versions of the iliad, the voyage of. Written by jack pulman, it stars derek jacobi as claudius, with sian phillips, brian blessed, george baker, margaret tyzack, john hurt, patricia quinn, ian ogilvy, kevin mcnally, patrick stewart, and john rhysdavies. At first, while everyone in rome is falling victim to the treachery. I, claudius by robert graves read by derek jacobimakes a ripping yarn the guardianhistorical novel with a human focus.
Born in leytonstone, london in 1938, derek jacobi always wanted to be an actor. See more ideas about tv drama, british tv, rome costume. Sir derek george jacobi, cbe is an english actor and film director. If you are anticipating a pageturnernovel dont purchase this audio book. Lewis and two abridged versions of i, claudius by robert graves. Tolkien, and two abridged versions of i, claudius by robert graves. Do note to roman history lovers, please dont take this book as real history.
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