Robert Graves

Robert von Ranke Graves (1895 - 1985), also known as Robert Ranke Graves and most commonly Robert Graves, was an English poet, historical novelist, critic and classicist. In a way similar to Oscar Wilde, Robert Graves was a Celticist and student of Irish mythology, by the influence of his father Alfred Perceval Graves, a celebrated Irish poet - with William Wilde, these families were inheritors of the Gaelic revival. He produced more than 140 works. Graves's poems-together with his translations...See more

Robert von Ranke Graves (1895 - 1985), also known as Robert Ranke Graves and most commonly Robert Graves, was an English poet, historical novelist, critic and classicist. In a way similar to Oscar Wilde, Robert Graves was a Celticist and student of Irish mythology, by the influence of his father Alfred Perceval Graves, a celebrated Irish poet - with William Wilde, these families were inheritors of the Gaelic revival. He produced more than 140 works. Graves's poems-together with his translations and innovative analysis and interpretations of the Greek myths; his memoir of his early life, including his role in the First World War, Good-Bye to All That; and his speculative study of poetic inspiration, The White Goddess-have never been out of print. Irish literature deeply affected Graves' White Goddess theories, specifically the genre aisling. He earned his living from writing, particularly popular historical novels such as I, Claudius, King Jesus, The Golden Fleece and Count Belisarius. He also was a prominent translator of Classical Latin and Ancient Greek texts; his versions of The Twelve Caesars and The Golden Ass remain popular, for their clarity and entertaining style. Graves was awarded the 1934 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for both I, Claudius and Claudius the God. See less