Most Popular Books by Robert Graves

First published in 1929 and therefore now public domain in the US, ''''Good-Bye to All That'''' is an autobiography by Robert Graves when the author was 34 years old. "It was my bitter leave-taking of England," he wrote in a prologue, "where I had recently broken a good many conventions." The title may also point to the passing of an old order following the cataclysm of the First World War; the supposed inadequacies of patriotism, the interest of some in atheism, feminism, socialism and pacifism, the changes to traditional married life, and not least the emergence of new styles of literary expression, are all treated in the work, bearing as they did directly on Graves''s life. The unsentimental and frequently comic treatment of the banalities and intensities of the life of a British army officer in the First World War gave Graves fame notoriety and financial security, but the book''s subject is also his family history, childhood, schooling and, immediately following the war, early married life; all phases bearing witness to the "particular mode of living and thinking" that constitute a poetic sensibility.

This work examines poetry from a psychological point of view.

An accessible anthology of the greatest ancient Greek myths and legends for readers of all ages by the celebrated classicist and historical novelist. According to the myths, gods and goddesses of ancient Greece lived on Mount Olympus and ruled the world of mortals. Famous heroes shaped the course of history, beautiful women drew the gazes of gods and men alike, and the gods were both fickle in their favors and breathtakingly generous to those they smiled upon. From Midas''s tragic gift to the exploits of Hercules and the curse of Pandora, Robert Graves brings the legends of ancient Greece to life in a way that''s sure to appeal to everyone; from children to adults, and from casual readers to serious scholars. "Directly told, with no attempt to oversimplify them, a good deal of the symbolism and the association with the pattern of ancient Greece survives." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review).

"Goodbye to All That" is a powerful memoir written by Robert Graves, reflecting on his experiences during World War I. The book offers a candid and deeply personal account of the horrors of war and the impact it had on his life. Graves, a British soldier, provides readers with a vivid portrayal of the brutality and chaos of the battlefield. He shares his journey from a young man eager to serve his country to a disillusioned veteran grappling with the aftermath of conflict. The memoir begins with Graves'' early life and education. He describes his upbringing in a comfortable middle-class family and his time at Oxford University. These formative years are marked by a sense of privilege and optimism. However, this innocence is shattered when he enlists in the army at the outbreak of the war. Graves captures the excitement and fervor of young men rushing to join the fight. He conveys the sense of duty and patriotism that motivated him and his peers to enlist. As Graves recounts his experiences in the trenches, he provides a stark contrast to the romanticized notions of war often portrayed in literature. He describes the grim realities of life on the front lines, including the constant threat of death, the squalor of the trenches, and the psychological toll of combat. His writing is raw and unflinching, allowing readers to grasp the true horrors faced by soldiers. Graves does not shy away from depicting the gruesome injuries, the fear, and the trauma that became part of daily life. Throughout the memoir, Graves reflects on the friendships he formed with fellow soldiers. He shares poignant stories of camaraderie and loyalty amidst the chaos. These relationships serve as a lifeline for many soldiers, providing comfort and support in the face of unimaginable adversity. However, Graves also highlights the fragility of these bonds, as the constant threat of loss looms over them. The emotional weight of war is palpable in his writing, as he grapples with the reality of losing friends and comrades. Graves'' account also delves into the psychological effects of war. He explores the concept of shell shock, now known as post-traumatic stress disorder, and its devastating impact on soldiers. His own experiences of fear, anxiety, and nightmares are vividly depicted. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the mental scars left by war, which often go unnoticed in society. Graves advocates for understanding and compassion towards veterans who struggle to reintegrate into civilian life. In addition to his experiences in combat, Graves reflects on the broader social and political implications of the war. He critiques the leadership and decisions made by those in power, questioning the motives behind the conflict. His disillusionment with authority is evident as he grapples with the senselessness of the war and its consequences. Graves challenges the glorification of war and urges readers to consider the human cost of such conflicts. As the memoir progresses, Graves recounts his eventual return to civilian life. He describes the challenges he faced in adjusting to a world forever changed by the war. The transition from soldier to civilian is fraught with difficulties. Graves struggles to find his place in a society that cannot fully comprehend the trauma he has endured. He reflects on the alienation and sense of loss that many veterans experience upon returning home. "Goodbye to All That" is not only a personal narrative but also a historical document. It provides valuable insights into the experiences of soldiers during World War I. Graves'' writing captures the essence of a generation marked by conflict and upheaval. His reflections serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served and the lasting impact of war on individuals and society. The memoir is notable for its literary merit and candidness. Graves'' prose is both poignant and evocative, drawing readers into his world. His ability to articulate complex emotions and experiences makes the narrative relatable and impactful. The book has become a classic in war literature and continues to resonate with readers today. "Goodbye to All That" is a profound exploration of the realities of war and its aftermath. Robert Graves'' memoir offers a unique perspective on the experiences of soldiers during World War I. Through his honest and reflective writing, he sheds light on the physical and emotional toll of conflict. This memoir is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of war and the human experience. It serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

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.

Though he lived most of his life in the remote village of Deya on the island of Mallorca, Robert Graves (1895--1985) was conversant with the most important issues of this century and was acquainted with many of the most powerful people. Jorge Luis Borges called him "a soul above." Graves wrote almost restlessly on subjects of great diversity: myths of the Greeks, Romans, Hebrews, and Celts; modern science and economics; contemporary society and culture as well as of ancient Greece and Rome, of Celtic Wales and Ireland, of the time of Milton, and of the American Revolution. He was a poet of great fame, a celebrated writer of historical novels, and the man who imprinted the name and identity of the White Goddess upon the cultural language. His translations of Latin classics have been applauded; his recastings of Biblical and Persian texts attracted irascible attention from scholars. He was a poet of great fame, a celebrated writer of historical novels, and the man who imprinted the name and identity of the White Goddess upon the cultural language. His translations of Latin classics have been applauded; his recastings of Biblical and Persian texts attracted irascible attention from scholars.

In "The Pier-Glass," Robert Graves masterfully weaves a tale that explores the complex interplay between love, deception, and the search for identity. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century England, the narrative is rich with lyrical prose and introspective depth, characteristic of Graves'' style. The novel oscillates between reality and surrealism, employing a fragmented narrative that invites readers to question the authenticity of perceptions, ultimately reflecting the tumultuous cultural landscape of its time, influenced by the aftermath of World War I and evolving societal norms. Robert Graves, renowned poet and novelist, is recognized for his adventurous spirit and profound literary contributions. His experiences on the front lines during World War I left an indelible mark on his worldview, imparting a sense of disillusionment that permeates his writing. Drawing from his own quest for self-identity amidst chaos and transformation, Graves infuses "The Pier-Glass" with autobiographical elements, mirroring his psychological struggles and philosophical inquiries that echo throughout his oeuvre. This compelling narrative is recommended for readers interested in psychological depth and historical context, as well as those seeking to understand the intricacies of human relationships. Graves'' poignant exploration of self-deception and the quest for truth makes "The Pier-Glass" an essential read for both literary enthusiasts and those intrigued by the human condition.

An entertaining tirade against the perceived iniquities of the trade anthology. A statement of poetic integrity, it poses awkward questions about the production and consumption of art in the mass markets of twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

In "Over the Brazier," Robert Graves masterfully intertwines the themes of love, art, and human experience within a narrative steeped in lyrical prose and metaphorical depth. Set against the backdrop of post-World War I England, Graves employs a unique blend of autobiographical elements and fictional storytelling, creating a poignant exploration of the complexities of life and the healing power of art. The book reflects the literary style of the early 20th century, marked by introspection and a rejection of conventional norms, resonating with the broader context of modernist literature. Robert Graves, a distinguished poet, novelist, and scholar, draws upon his own tumultuous experiences as a soldier and the transformative aftermath of the war that shaped his worldview. His deep interest in mythology and the human psyche informs the rich narrative of "Over the Brazier," reflecting his lifelong engagement with identity and existential themes. Graves''s erudition and personal experiences lend authenticity to the work, as he grapples with the themes of loss and renewal. For readers seeking an evocative exploration of the intersections of creativity and life''s trials, "Over the Brazier" is an indispensable journey. Its profound reflections on love, loss, and the search for meaning speak to the human condition, compelling readers to contemplate their own experiences through the lens of Graves''s artful narrative.

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 collection of essays by the author of "The White Goddess," linked together by some common assumptions regarding the nature of poetry. The title of the book, according to the writer, "is shorthand for saying that the popular view of what poetry is, or ought to be, has for centuries been based on sentimental misapprehensions."

The sixth century was not a peaceful time for the Roman empire. Invaders threatened on all fronties, but they grew to respect and fear the name of Belisarius, the Emperor Justinian''s greatest general. With this book Robert Graves again demonstrates his command of a vast historical subject, creating a startling and vivid picture of a decadent era.

Retells the stories of Greek gods and heroes.

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 Odyssey has been described as a ''women''s'' epic, full of female characters and different in kind and colour from the Iliad with its tight focus and its largely male world. Graves''s Nausicaa is a brilliant story-teller. She is a princess of mixed ancestry, combining in herself the various cultures that inform the language and folklore of the epic. She lives in a Greek-Trojan settlement in Sicily some time after the Trojan War. Graves makes it possible for us to believe that she tells her own, true story, buried within Homer''s epic. There is adventure and intrigue; the book stands near the beginning of a tradition that includes Leonardo Sciascia''s The Council of Egypt and Umberto Eco''s The Name of the Rose. Nausicaa is smart and resilient. She solves the mystery of her brother''s disappearance, then organises a counterplot, recalling Odysseus''s bloody, triumphal return to Ithaca."--BOOK JACKET.

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 best book on writing ever published” (Patricia T. O’Conner, author of Woe Is I). When Robert Graves and Alan Hodge decided to collaborate on this manual for writers, the world was in total upheaval. Graves had fled Majorca three years earlier at the start of the Spanish Civil War, and as they labored over their new project, they witnessed the fall of France and the evacuation of Allied forces at Dunkirk. Soon the horror of World War II would reach British soil as well, as the Luftwaffe began bombing London in an effort to destroy the resolve of the English people. Graves and Hodge believed that at a time when their whole world was falling apart, the survival of English prose sentences—of writing that was clear, concise, and intelligible—had become paramount if hope were going to outlive the onslaught. They came up with forty-one principles for writing, the majority devoted to clarity, the remainder to grace of expression. They studied the prose of a wide range of noted authors and leaders, finding much room for improvement. Successful communication could mean the difference between war and peace, life and death, and they were determined to contribute to its survival. The importance of good writing continues today, as obfuscation, propaganda, manipulative language, and sloppy standards are all too common—and this classic guide is just as useful and important as ever. Note: This edition restores the full, original 1943 text. “To see what really expert mavens can do in applying their rule-based expertise to clearing up bad prose, get hold of a copy of The Reader Over Your Shoulder.” —The Atlantic

Swashbuckling historical fiction from the author of I, Claudius. “A cleverly balanced mixture of spice, fact, humor and adventure on and off the high seas” (Kirkus Reviews). Set in the Age of Exploration, The Islands of Unwisdom tells the story of the ill-fated Don Álvaro de Mendaña y Neyra, a Spanish explorer set on finding the Solomon Islands, the mythical source of King Solomon’s vast wealth. Driven by greed, ambition, and lust, Don Alvaro and his wife, the beautiful and dangerous Ysabel, lead a crew of adventurers beyond the horizon in search of the wealth of their wildest dreams. However, that’s not exactly what they find. In the hands of master historical novelist, classicist, and poet Robert Graves, this tale offers a fascinating look at a brutal and bloody era, and insights into the reasons for Spain’s failure to ultimately dominate world exploration during this time.

The real story of T. E. Lawrence’s life as told by the author of I, Claudius. “A combination of history, biography, and . . . an amazingly human tale” (Boston Evening Transcript). Immortalized in the film Lawrence of Arabia, the real T. E. Lawrence was a leader, a war strategist, and a scholar, and is here immortalized in an intimate biography written by his close friend, the award-winning British novelist, poet and classicist Robert Graves. As a student at Oxford, T. E. Lawrence was fascinated with Middle Eastern history and culture, and underwent a four-month visit to Syria to study the fortifications built by the crusaders. Later, he returned to the region, this time as an archaeologist working with the British Army’s Intelligence unit in Egypt during World War I. From there, in 1916, he joined Arab rebels fighting against Turkish domination. His brilliance as a desert war tactician earned him the respect of the Turkish fighters and worldwide renown. “Interesting and informative.” —New York Herald Tribune “[Mr. Graves] has done his job admirably and without any too obvious excesses of hero worship.” —New Statesman “[Readers] will consult Mr. Graves for information about this man.” —The New Republic

“Both the knowledge of a scholar and the imagination of a poet are brought to bear upon Jesus as child, boy, and man. . . . A bold speculative adventure” (Harold Brighouse, Manchester Guardian). In Robert Graves’s unique retelling, Jesus is very much a mortal and the grandson of King Herod the Great. When his father runs afoul of the king’s temper and is executed, Jesus is raised in the house of Joseph the Carpenter. The kingdom he is heir to, in this version of the story, is very much a terrestrial one: the Kingdom of Judah. Graves tells of Jesus’s rise as a philosopher, scriptural scholar, and charismatic speaker in sharp detail, as well as his arrest and downfall as a victim of pitiless Roman politics. Bringing together his unparalleled narrative skill and in-depth expertise in historical scholarship, renowned classicist and historical novelist Robert Graves brings the story of Jesus Christ to life in a strikingly unorthodox way, making this one of the most hotly contested novels Graves ever wrote—and possibly one of the most controversial ever written. It provides a fascinating new twist to a well-known story, one that fans of this historical period are sure to love. “This is not reading for the easily shocked; it definitely presents Jesus as a sage and a [poet], if not divine. It moves, as does all Mr. Graves’ writing, at a brilliant fast pace, and with a tremendous style.” —Kirkus Reviews

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

A sanctioned biography of T. E. Lawrence, known popularly as "Lawrence of Arabia," this work by the eminent Robert Graves attempts to provide a fair and balanced treatment of the man. Based on interviews with Lawrence and his close associates, this account clearly displays its authenticity.

In this sequel to I, Claudius, the story of the Roman Emperor—on which the award-winning BBC TV series was based—continues . . . In I, Claudius, Robert Graves began the story of the limping, stammering young man who is suddenly thrust onto the throne after the death of Caligula. In Claudius the God, Graves continues the story, detailing Claudius’s thirteen-year reign and his ultimate downfall. Painting the vivid, tumultuous, and decadent society of ancient Rome with spectacular detail, Graves provides a tale that is instructive, compelling, and difficult to put down for both casual readers and students of Roman history.

In this autobiography, first published in 1929, poet Robert Graves traces the monumental and universal loss of innocence that occurred as a result of the First World War. Written after the war and as he was leaving his birthplace, he thought, forever, Good-Bye to All That bids farewell not only to England and his English family and friends, but also to a way of life. Tracing his upbringing from his solidly middle-class Victorian childhood through his entry into the war at age twenty-one as a patriotic captain in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, this dramatic, poignant, often wry autobiography goes on to depict the horrors and disillusionment of the Great War, from life in the trenches and the loss of dear friends, to the stupidity of government bureaucracy and the absurdity of English class stratification. Paul Fussell has hailed it as "the best memoir of the First World War" and has written the introduction to this new edition that marks the eightieth anniversary of the end of the war. An enormous success when it was first issued, it continues to find new readers in the thousands each year and has earned its designation as a true classic.