Editorial Content for Agrippa: A Novel of Ancient Rome's Descent into Dictatorship

Robert Harris has spent the majority of his literary career producing historical fiction, some of which has gone on to inspire outstanding films, like Enigma and Conclave. His latest, AGRIPPA, focuses on a little-known figure of the Roman Empire who grew up under the shadow of Julius Caesar before going on to be the principal ally of Caesar's nephew, Octavius.

Agrippa was the nickname given to Marcus Vipsanius. Since his mother died in childbirth giving him life, the name that hounded him throughout his youth literally translated to mother killer. Like many other figures of historical renown, Agrippa overcame this label and turned it into a symbol of power and strength. He earned the respect of his peers, other commoners, during his rise within the political structure of the Roman Empire.

"Having the opportunity to ride alongside Agrippa from the post-Caesar era to the growth of the dictatorship model that eventually would bring about the fall of the Roman Empire is eye-opening and exhilarating for those who love their historical fiction told to them by a master of the genre."

As a young man, Caesar himself nominated Agrippa to become the watchdog for Octavius, a chubby and unpopular youth bound for greatness merely due to his familial lineage. This relationship would continue nearly up until Agrippa’s death. When Caesar was assassinated by a group of followers who were supposed to be loyal to him, Rome was caught up in the outrage. It prompted the perhaps premature rise to power of Octavius, who was now known as Caesar Augustus. At his right hand stood his primary legionnaire, Agrippa. They vowed to march upon and destroy their enemies, the same ones who took down Caesar. Among them was Mark Antony, who had since aligned himself with the Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra.

Caesar Augustus had many adversaries, and more than a few citizens thought he was too young and inexperienced to lead Rome. This merely amplified his level of cruelty, much of which fell under Agrippa to carry out. To be completely effective, they had to partner with others to defeat those they feared and hated --- people like Cicero, who was pivotal in the rise of Caesar Augustus only to find himself betrayed and cast aside in an unpredictable political turn of events. There is much of that in this novel.

Thousands suffered and died at the hands of Caesar Augustus, including the citizens of Perusia, which also was burned to the ground, never to rise again. Eventually, their greatest enemies would fall as outlined in a letter that Caesar Augustus sent to Agrippa while out in the field that described the suicides of Antony and Cleopatra.

A rift formed between Agrippa and Caesar Augustus, which only widened when Caesar Augustus claimed Agrippa’s male offspring as his own. Agrippa’s wife, who was often accused of being unfaithful to him, quickly married a colleague of his upon his passing. I was not aware that one of Agrippa’s own grandchildren would grow to be bigger and more famous than Caesar Augustus ever was: Caligula, the future Emperor of Rome. This is just one of the many delicious morsels that is blended so seamlessly into the story.

The most important thing that Robert Harris does with AGRIPPA is to bring to life a historical figure most of us were completely unaware of. Having the opportunity to ride alongside Agrippa from the post-Caesar era to the growth of the dictatorship model that eventually would bring about the fall of the Roman Empire is eye-opening and exhilarating for those who love their historical fiction told to them by a master of the genre.