Chapter 9 Summary

The events of this chapter are undated but may be inferred to have occurred around 8 AD. Pollio and Livy are both renowned historians. Pollio has the edge on accuracy and scholastic achievement, whereas Livy is by far the more popular author. Claudius meets them by accident in a public library, and after Livy introduces the young man to Pollio, a rather humorous exchange about books takes place. Pollio then criticizes Livy for being too free with the facts to be a good historian; Pollio recounts that Julius Caesar delivered bawdy monologues before combat, not preachy addresses as reported by Livy. Livy leaves in anger while Pollio praises Claudius. He suggests that Claudius would make an excellent military general, then makes a brief but veiled inference that Claudius' father and grandfather were both poisoned by Livia. Claudius regards the statement as untenable.

Chapter 9 Analysis