In modern literature In the popular fictional work I, Claudius by Robert Graves—based on Tacitus' innuendo—Livia is portrayed as a thoroughly Machiavellian, scheming political mastermind. Determined never to allow republican governance to flower again, as she felt they led to corruption and civil war, and devoted to bringing Tiberius to power and then maintaining him there, she is involved in nearly every death or disgrace in the Julio-Claudian family up to the time of her death. On her deathbed she only fears divine punishment for all she had done, and secures the promise of future deification by her grandson Claudius, an act which, she believes, will guarantee her a blissful afterlife. However, this portrait of her is balanced by her intense devotion to the well-being of the Empire as a whole, and her machinations are justified as a necessarily cruel means to what she firmly considers a noble aspiration: the common good of the Romans, achievable only under strict imperial rule. In John Maddox Roberts's short story "The King of Sacrifices," set in his SPQR series, Livia hires Decius Metellus to investigate the murder of one of Julia the Elder's lovers. In Antony and Cleopatra by Colleen McCullough, Livia is portrayed as a cunning and effective advisor to her husband, whom she loves passionately. Luke Devenish's "Empress of Rome" novels, Den of Wolves (2008) and Nest of Vipers (2010), have Livia as a central character in a fictionalized account of her life and times. Livia plays an important role in two Marcus Corvinus mysteries by David Wishart, Ovid (1995) and Germanicus (1997). She is mentioned posthumously in Sejanus (1998).
in modern literature in the popular fictional work i claudius by robert graves—based on tacitus' innuendo—livia is portrayed as a thoroughly machiavellian scheming political mastermind determined never to allow republican governance to flower again as she felt they led to corruption and civil war and devoted to bringing tiberius to power and then maintaining him there she is involved in nearly every death or disgrace in the julio-claudian family up to the time of her death on her deathbed she only fears divine punishment for all she had done and secures the promise of future deification by her grandson claudius an act which she believes will guarantee her a blissful afterlife however this portrait of her is balanced by her intense devotion to the well-being of the empire as a whole and her machinations are justified as a necessarily cruel means to what she firmly considers a noble aspiration the common good of the romans achievable only under strict imperial rule in john maddox roberts's short story "the king of sacrifices" set in his spqr series livia hires decius metellus to investigate the murder of one of julia the elder's lovers in antony and cleopatra by colleen mccullough livia is portrayed as a cunning and effective advisor to her husband whom she loves passionately luke devenish's "empress of rome" novels den of wolves (2008) and nest of vipers (2010) have livia as a central character in a fictionalized account of her life and times livia plays an important role in two marcus corvinus mysteries by david wishart ovid (1995) and germanicus (1997) she is mentioned posthumously in sejanus (1998)