CAN YOU SAY A LOAD OF CRAP?
YES, this incident is funny. Yes, it is quaint.
Yes, it does seem to endear Claudius to the audience. But is there any ancient evidence for this? NO!!
The fact that Graves feels the need to have the Sibyl prophesy that in about 1900 years Claudius will speak clear, which coincidentally is just about when Graves himself is writing, is ludicrous. Graves is delusional to the point that he makes up an ancient prophecy to foretell the writing of his book! He is a maniac! Don't take my word for it, read the stupid thing yourself
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click here for a good laugh
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GIVE THE GUY A BREAK!
Graves should be evaluated as a writer of historical fiction rather than as an historian. He does use the ancient sources extensively, but creatively. While the Sibyl incident is unquestionably a fabrication on the part of Graves, it provides a clever means of introduction to the body of the novel serving as a transition from the present (1934) to Imperial Rome (23 BC -AD 41).
A stretch?YES.
A 'ludicrous... delusional... load of crap'?NO |
