The bloke who does the introduction for this says it's a shame this book isn't as well known as I Claudius because it's as good but it's not, not by a long shot. Belisarius was a great figure, an amazing general who almost got the old Roman Empire back and firing again - and might have done it, had he enjoyed a better relationship with his Emperor - but he was so remarkable that he's not nearly as relatable as Claudius. Claudius was an all time great underdog of history, and his story involved family; Belisarius is a genius with a not particularly memorable family.
Also Graves' narrator is a loyal eunuch, which is not only uncomfortable to think about but he's a dull character to, and far too much of this is repetitive: Belisarius is given inadequate support, manages to win, Justinian gets jealous (this happens in Africa, Italy, the Middle East). It also has a down beat finale of legend with Belisarius being blinded and winding up poor (something Ian Hughes disputes in his biography of the general).
The most interesting thing about it is the relationship between Belisarius and his ambitious ex hooker wife and her possible lover. I enjoyed Belisarius as a child and the stuff about the chariot riot but the second half was more of a struggle to read.
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