Robert Harris, the bestselling author known for his historical novels, has returned to ancient Rome with his latest work focusing on Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, a key figure in the early years of the Roman Empire. This release comes 11 years after Harris concluded his highly regarded “Cicero” trilogy with the novel "Dictator," which explored the fall of the Roman Republic through the eyes of the famed statesman Cicero. Agrippa, a contemporary and close ally of Julius Caesar’s great-nephew Gaius Octavius—later known as the emperor Augustus—is portrayed as both a military commander and political partner, whose career was deeply intertwined with Octavian’s rise to power.
Harris’s new novel employs a narrative device that positions Agrippa as the memoirist of his own life, writing in exile at the age of 50 while suffering from illness and personal disappointment. The storytelling alternates between sections set in Agrippa’s retreat in Campania and detailed chronological accounts of pivotal moments in Roman history, including the assassination of Julius Caesar, the volatile struggle between Octavian and Mark Antony, and key battles such as Philippi, Naulochus, and Actium.
The novel aims to fill historical gaps and vividly depicts the violent and chaotic era shaping the Roman Empire’s foundation. Readers may find the action scenes particularly engaging, with accounts of intense combat and political intrigue. The appearance of Cicero and other familiar figures from Harris’s earlier works offers a degree of continuity for fans of the author’s Roman narratives.
However, some critics note that the book faces challenges similar to those in the Cicero trilogy. Because Agrippa dies at the novel’s conclusion, Harris condenses a wide-ranging historical period into a single volume, which at times limits deeper exploration of Agrippa’s inner thoughts and motivations. Although Agrippa occasionally acknowledges personal ambition and jealousy toward Octavian, these emotional aspects are not fully developed, and the narrative relies on a largely straightforward presentation of events, lacking a significant exploration of Agrippa’s reliability as a narrator.
A notable fictional element is the suggestion—sometimes speculated in historical circles—that Agrippa was the illegitimate son of Julius Caesar. Harris acknowledges in an afterword that this is purely conjectural. The narrative accepts this theory without delving into internal conflict or doubt, a choice that has raised questions about missed opportunities for dramatic tension. Additionally, some historical inaccuracies are present, such as an anachronistic quotation attributed to Agrippa, though this is recognized as a common liberty within historical fiction.
Despite these criticisms, the novel is expected to achieve commercial success and potentially be adapted into film, following the trajectory of Harris’s previous works. Observers have suggested that Harris might consider giving future projects more room to develop complex characters, possibly through multi-volume series, with some expressing interest in a detailed portrayal of figures like Sextus Pompey, a character briefly highlighted within the current novel.
In sum, Harris’s portrayal of Agrippa offers a detailed and engaging account of a formative period in Roman history, blending fact with fiction. While some narrative choices and character developments may invite debate, the book adds another dimension to contemporary historical fiction centered on the ancient world.