A novel by an author you've always felt you should read (Can't seem to find this one so I'm starting one now.  OK?)

I, Claudius by Robert Graves:  I just could not get into the I, Claudius mini series but the book took me back to a Rome so unpredictable and strange that I doubt if I could have survived. However, Claudius survives bloody Rome and its mad, vindictive leaders by hiding beneath his limp, stammer and the image his family and acquaintances have cast upon him.  The butt of jokes everywhere, he buries himself in nonpolitical historical research and writes books about what he discovers while his friends and family members are murdered and/or exiled.  Of course, there is more to this read than that but I'll leave the rest for everyone to discover for themselves.   I do believe that this is a book everyone should take time to read.    

I highly recommend Robert Graves' historical novel I,Claudius (as well as its successor Claudius, the God).   It really set the standard for historical novels as fictional autobiographies.  I    would also recommend the BBC miniseries for these books. Derek Jacobi plays Claudius, and he does it brilliantly.  Having a bit of a thing for the Roman Empire, I own all of these items and really  enjoy them.

The BBC mini-series was great,  so your post is another good selling point for me to read the books