The I, Claudius novels became massively popular when published, both in 1934.[8][9] In addition to instant popularity and enormous sales the books soon gained literary recognition; they were collectively awarded the 1934 James Tait Black Prize for fiction.[10] Along with his autobiography, Good-Bye to All That, they remain Graves' best known work.[11] Graves later claimed that the novels were written only from financial need on a strict deadline.[12] Nonetheless, they are today regarded as pioneering masterpieces of historical fiction.[13]
At the time of its original publication, Peter Monro Jack of The New York Times wrote: "Mr. Graves has made a fascinating novel out of [Claudius], and of the Rome of his times a piece of first-rate historical writing."[14]
