'Agrippa' by Robert Harris
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What new novel does Robert Harris discuss on the Radio 2 Book Club?
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painki. Mm- Now, this is the Radio 2 Book Club with Sarah Cox.
Well, hello there. It's me, Sarah. We're back with another Radio 2 Book Club Pod. Settle down at the back, everyone. Here we go. Some excellent book chat. Julie's been on. Heyya, Julie. She says, Hi Sarah, and the BCG. Finally got around to reading yesteryear, which you featured earlier on in the year. Oh, isn't it good? The sort of book I've been pressing into everybody's hands this year. Even Hus Ben has read it. Uh back to Julie. She says, I absolutely loved it. And then she says the ending is marmite though, isn't it? I have to concur, yeah. I wasn't that wild about the ending. However Don't get me wrong, it is fully worth reading. It is such an incredible book.
Why did Robert choose the relatively unknown figure of Agrippa for his latest book?
I've given it to my sister to read. She's a lot more snooty than me when it comes to books. I love you, Julie. But I think she'll really enjoy it. I can see why it's getting so much buzz. My next read is Enough by Dawn French. Ooh, enjoy. Love the pod. Julie, thanks so much. Don't be a stranger. Email again. And that goes for the rest of you. If you'd like to say hello, tell us anything about books. What you're reading at the moment, what you're looking forward to reading. Uh if it's to do with books, we absolutely love it. Radio2bookclub at bbc.co.uk Right, time to tell you now about our latest Radio Two Book Club Choice, which is a new novel from Robert Harris. It's called Agrippa, which sees Robert return to ancient Rome to tell the fictional autobiography of one of Augustus Caesars' top generals and friends.
Welcome back to the Radio Two Book Club Robert. Now, firstly, Robert, did I murder the title of the book or was that okay?
No, that's right. It's called Agrippa. Um and it's uh yeah, a fictionalized memoir of uh Marcus Agrippa who, as you say, was uh the right hand man of the Emperor Augustus. And also a great title for a book. It's a real
gripper. It's like it's a gripper. There are a lot of good puns to be had from this, yes. Um, congratulations on your new novel. Uh is it still as exciting this moment when it's released out into the world when you're so many books in? Yeah. Uh well it's exciting.
It's quite nerve wracking and then you feel a bit of relief when you've managed to survive it. So yeah, it's good to have another one out there. Seventeenth novel.
How does Harris describe the research process for writing ancient‑Roman fiction?
Uh who I never expected to write so many actually, but here we go. I'm still I'm still in the field, still standing.
Yeah, congratulations and also congratulations on something else. You are now officially the author with the most Radio Two book club choices ever. Uh with five, an officer and a spy from twenty thirteen, Conclave three years later, the year after that Munich, and Precipice from twenty twenty four, and now Agripper. So please set up this story for us if you will, Robert.
Yes, and well and thank you for all the rewards you've given me in the past, the honors and I do appreciate it. Uh yeah, uh Agrippa was uh one of the most successful and famous people most people have never heard of. He was uh incredibly brilliant general in the first century BC. Uh he was the commander of the Roman fleet that defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium. He built the Panther. in Rome and uh aqueducts. Uh he was a phenomenal character and he owed it all to the fact that from his teenage years he was a close friend of the man who became the Emperor Augustus.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What new novel does Robert Harris discuss on the Radio 2 Book Club?
0:00–2:01
2
Why did Robert choose the relatively unknown figure of Agrippa for his latest book?
2:01–3:31
3
How does Harris describe the research process for writing ancient‑Roman fiction?
3:31–6:47
4
What insights does the audiobook excerpt give about Agrippa’s voice and childhood?
6:47–9:29
5
Why does Harris say a bust of Agrippa on his desk helped him write the novel?
9:29–12:16
6
How does the novel handle famous historical characters like Cleopatra and Mark Antony?
12:16–15:33
7
What other books has Robert been reading lately and how do they influence his writing?
15:33–17:01
8
What can listeners expect from Robert Harris’s next project after Agrippa?
17:01–19:06
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from The Radio 2 Book Club
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