'Agrippa' by Robert Harris
About this episode
Sara welcomes Robert Harris to discuss his new novel 'Agrippa' and his fascination with the character of Agrippa in Ancient Rome.
Sara welcomes international bestselling author Robert Harris to the Book Club. This is Robert's FIFTH time on the Radio 2 Book Club, making his the author with the most appearances to date! They discuss 'Agrippa', his new novel, which sees Robert return to Ancient Rome - something he hasn't done since his Cicero trilogy in 2015. They chat about Robert's fascination with the character of Agrippa, why he's not as well-known as Augustus Caesar, and how you get in the mind of a person like that as a novelist. (turns out, all you need is a giant bust of the persons head on your desk!) We also hear a clip from the audiobook - narrated beautifully by Simon Russell Beale - and get a top book recommendation from Robert as well. Here's a little more info on 'Agrippa': Julius Caesar is dead, and the lives of two teenaged boys are about to be changed forever. One is Caesar’s 17-year-old nephew, Octavius, whom he has made his heir. The other is Octavius’s closest friend, Agrippa. To claim Octavius’s inheritance, they must fight the giant figures of the Roman Empire – and, against all odds, they win. Octavius becomes the Emperor Augustus. For twenty years, they rule the world together. Now…
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