Robert Harris’s Agrippa Brings Ancient Rome to Life Through a New Perspective

Published by Doubleday, Agrippa follows Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, the trusted military commander and lifelong companion of Octavius, the man who would eventually become Rome’s first emperor, Augustus. Rather than telling the story primarily through the eyes of the future emperor, Harris gives Agrippa a central role, offering readers a different perspective on one of history’s most dramatic periods.

The novel opens with Agrippa looking back on his life from his home on the Bay of Naples. From this later point in his life, he reflects on the events that began when he and Octavius were young men and continued through the political and military upheavals that transformed Rome.

Agrippa and Octavius came from very different circumstances. Octavius was the great-nephew and adopted heir of Julius Caesar, while Agrippa came from a less prominent background. Despite those differences, the two developed a close friendship that would become an important partnership.

Their relationship becomes increasingly significant after the assassination of Julius Caesar. Octavius enters a dangerous struggle for control, and Agrippa emerges as one of his most capable and dependable allies. His military ability becomes particularly important as Octavius confronts powerful rivals and attempts to establish his authority.

The story moves through some of the best-known events of the late Roman Republic. Readers encounter the aftermath of Caesar’s assassination, the rivalry involving Mark Antony and Octavius, the conflict surrounding Cleopatra, and the Battle of Actium. These historical events provide the large-scale backdrop for a more personal story about two men whose friendship develops alongside Rome’s dramatic political transformation.

One of the most interesting elements of Agrippa is its focus on a historical figure who is less familiar to general audiences than many of the people surrounding him. Julius Caesar, Augustus, Mark Antony and Cleopatra have been the subjects of countless books and films, but Agrippa’s contribution to the rise of Augustus is less widely recognized.

Agrippa was far more than a supporting figure. He was an accomplished military commander, strategist and statesman who played a crucial role in Octavius’s victories. His achievements included an important role in the naval victory at Actium, an event that helped secure Octavius’s position and changed the balance of power in the Roman world.

By placing Agrippa at the center, Harris can explore the personal consequences of participating in such a transformation. Agrippa is not simply watching history unfold. He is helping create it while remaining closely connected to the man who will ultimately become emperor.

That creates an important tension within the novel. Agrippa’s loyalty to Octavius is both personal and political. As Octavius gains power, their friendship exists alongside increasingly complicated questions about ambition, authority and the price of success.

Harris approaches these historical subjects through the conventions of the modern historical novel. The known events of Roman history provide the framework, while fictionalized conversations, personal reflections and character relationships allow the story to explore experiences that cannot be fully reconstructed from historical records.

The author's familiarity with ancient Rome also makes Agrippa a notable addition to his body of work. Harris previously explored the final decades of the Roman Republic in his trilogy about the Roman statesman and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero. Those novels included Imperium, Lustrum and Dictator, giving Harris extensive experience writing about the people, institutions and conflicts of the period.

His wider career includes historical and political thrillers such as Fatherland, Pompeii, Munich and Conclave. Several of his novels have also been adapted for film, helping establish him as an internationally recognized author of historical and suspense fiction.

The release of Agrippa arrives at the beginning of the fall publishing season, a period when publishers traditionally introduce a large selection of prominent new books. The September 1 release places Harris’s novel among a broad group of new fiction titles competing for readers' attention.

For readers who enjoy historical fiction, the appeal of Agrippa lies in its combination of recognizable historical events and a less familiar central character. The novel provides an opportunity to revisit ancient Rome while considering the period from the perspective of someone whose actions had a lasting impact on the empire that followed.

The book may also appeal to readers who enjoy stories built around complicated friendships. At its heart, Agrippa is not only about battles and political change. It is also about two men whose lives become inseparable from the rise of one of history's most famous rulers.

With its September 1 publication, Agrippa begins the fall 2026 reading season with an ambitious story drawn from one of the most consequential periods of ancient history. Robert Harris’s decision to place Marcus Agrippa at the center gives readers a fresh way to approach the rise of Augustus and the transformation of Rome.

For Today’sRead readers interested in Fiction & Novels, the novel offers a blend of historical detail, personal drama and large-scale storytelling. Its arrival also demonstrates the continuing ability of historical fiction to revisit familiar events and make them feel new by changing the character through whose eyes the story is told.