About Caligula

I am reading I, Claudius by Robert Graves, which first book I should expect to finish soon. Then on to a different kind of read, then I will go back to more of Graves story with the second book. But I digress. You can read more about what I think of it so far in this post. Among the many fascinating characters of the novel is Emperor Caligula, the first mad emperor. I found one quote about him by his uncle Claudius (who narrates the novel) particularly interesting: "He was beginning to be unpopular. That the crowds always likes a holiday is a common saying, but when the whole year becomes one long holiday, and nobody has time for attending to his business, and pleasure becomes compulsory, then it is a different matter."

Pretty contemporary, isn't it? There are some of our rulers who fit this bill perfectly. And to think this is meant to be about Ancient Rome.