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Agrippa

The thrilling new novel set in Ancient Rome from the bestselling author of Conclave

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Agrippa

By: Robert Harris
Narrated by: Simon Russell Beale, Robert Harris
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The Sunday Times number one bestselling author returns to Ancient Rome in his latest thriller – coming August 2026.

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 Agrippa is fifty. Ailing and alone, betrayed by his wife’s infidelity, he takes refuge in his house on the Bay of Naples and begins to write his memoirs. Yet to stir up the past can be dangerous. From his earliest meetings with Julius Caesar, through the epic conflict with Mark Antony and Cleopatra, the great naval battle of Actium and the endless wars to expand the empire, he describes how one man has dominated his life: the cunning, ruthless, unknowable Octavius.

When it comes to power, does friendship exist at all?

This audiobook ends with an exclusive Q&A between Robert Harris and narrator Simon Russell Beale.

'A master storyteller' OBSERVER
'The king of the page-turning thriller' i PAPER
'Harris's cleverness, judgment and eye for detail are second to none' SUNDAY TIMES
'Harris writes with a skill and ingenuity that few other novelists can match' FINANCIAL TIMES
'A master of historical fiction' TLS

© Robert Harris 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

 Ancient Historical Historical Fiction Political Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense Ancient Rome War Ancient History
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Critic reviews

A persuasive portrait of rivalry in ancient Rome. This fictional memoir by Octavius’s right-hand man shows us bloodshed, betrayal and hectic jockeying for power. (Sam Leith)
A fascinating study of how power corrupts.
All stars
Most relevant
If you think this will be just like all the other Robert Harris books you’ve listened to, it won’t be. HOWEVER do persevere. . You hear a very listenable story told in the first person and narrated so well you feel you must continue to the end. Do listen to the end because the fascinating conversation between author and narrator completes the story by the description of the whole background. Having heard that conversation, you now want to start again and hear Agrippa’s story again.

A worthy story of Ancient Rome

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I am an 81 year old in hospital with cancer. My daughter suggested Agrippa and I thought I'd try a sample. I looked down at my watch and saw I was 6 hours into the easiest to read book I've ever ever seen and thought it a truly fantastic experience. Thank you very much. I'm off to start on Cicero

One of the best books I have ever read

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Great Book, well Narrated, I loved the book, I enjoyed the historical characters and the story had a nice pace to it.

Great Book, well Narrated,

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Unlike Harris’ previous novels , which take their time explaining the period this is a whistle stop tour of the rise of Augustus, told by his trusty and very able henchman. It’s a complicated period and some knowledge of the period would help ones enjoyment. While we move quickly from one event to another each is garnished with pithy dialogue which gives them real interest and meaning. “He had grasped by instinct one of the great lessons of politics — that power is like a muscle. It must be exercised constantly, otherwise it will turn flabby and weak.”

So the book is more than fictionalised history. I would have liked it longer or over a series but it still worked perfectly for a history geek.

Much to learn and enjoy

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I would happily listen to Simon Russell Beale reading the telephone directory but this is an exceptional performance of a world-weary Agrippa's review of his life during Rome's civil wars that followed the assassination of Julius Caesar. Harris writes in many ways like the political journalist he was, and this is in essence a political novel. War is, after all, politics by other means - Clausewitz's observation is even anachronistically purloined by Agrippa. First rate all round. I would normally prefer to read the novel, only listening to the audiobook when walking the dog, but this performance was too good to make that a rational choice. A Bank Holiday passed quickly and very pleasurably in SRB's and Harris's company. Strongly recommended.

Tremendous performance of a gripping story

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