I write books about the great Roman emperors
Anyone hunting for clues to the inspiration behind the bestselling novels of Robert Harris need not look far. Nestled amid the floor-to-ceiling shelves in his spacious, cigar-scented study at home in Berkshire – packed to the brim with histories and political biographies – is a large bust of the emperor Julius Caesar. On his nearby desk is a life-sized replica of the only extant sculpture of the Roman general Agrippa, titular hero of his latest historical blockbuster. Harris has spent many hours staring at the bust – “the face of someone you would not want to cross,” as he describes it – and pondering the motivations of the commoner who rose to glory 2,000 years ago as right-hand man to Caesar’s adoptive son Augustus.
TL;DR
- Robert Harris's latest novel, "Agrippa," is inspired by the Roman general who served as right-hand man to Augustus.
- Harris finds parallels between ancient Roman politics and modern political culture, seeing Rome as the original model for understanding power.
- He uses historical fiction to explore the inner lives of figures and fill in the gaps in historical records, drawing on his extensive research.
- Harris's work has successfully transitioned from WWII and Cold War settings to Ancient Rome, finding a receptive audience.
- The author observes that political systems can erode and that strong leaders can emerge, drawing comparisons to figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
- Harris reflects on contemporary political events, such as leadership changes in the Labour party, drawing analogies to Roman political machinations, though noting modern politics is thankfully not lethal.
- He emphasizes that politics is partly performance art, citing Augustus's carefully crafted public image as an example.