Robert Harris's new novel, Agrippa, examines the life of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, a prominent general and engineer during the late Roman Republic. Agrippa, instrumental in the rise of Octavius Caesar, later known as Augustus, has historically been overshadowed. Harris's speculative memoir-style novel, set as an ailing Agrippa reflects on his past, delves into the realpolitik of the Roman Empire, territorial expansion, and his complex relationship with Augustus.
The novel is described as a slow-burn portrait of psychological embitterment and complicit silence as Rome transitioned into dictatorship.
Also featured in this week's literary fiction releases is Marie Darrieussecq's How to Make a Woman, translated by Penny Hueston. The novel offers an absorbing portrait of two French teenagers navigating their journey into adulthood. The story follows Rose, 15, who questions her sexual experiences, and Solange, from a less affluent background, who already has a child. Rose pursues a career in psychology, while Solange becomes a renowned actress. The narrative largely presents the girls separately, with their adult reunion marking a shift in the novel's tone. It is characterized as a vivid depiction of sex, love, and self-discovery.
Karan Mahajan's The Complex is also reviewed. Set in 1980s Delhi, the novel centers on the sons of a deceased politician and builder struggling to establish their own paths. The narrative is significantly shaped by Gita, the wife of one of the sons, who remains traumatized by a past act of sexual violence in Delhi. This event and its consequences form the core of the story, which critically examines gender relations in Indian society. Mahajan's depiction of Delhi is noted for its grimness.
