Malia
asked
Robert Harris:
I'm a huge fan of your historical fiction - the Cicero series and An Officer and a Spy in particular - (and have converted both my parents as well;-) I'm wondering, how you decide on the subjects and historical focus of your novels? Do your decisions stem from a prior fascination with a figure or are they the development of a historical tidbit you heard of and wanted to explore further?
Robert Harris
The pleasure of the writing life is you never know what might turn up next. I started in 1999-2000 wanting to write a novel about America, and decided to make it an allegory and set it in Pompeii. I enjoyed Pompeii so much that I decided to write a big piece of historical fiction set in the Roman republic – a kind of ‘West Wing on the Tiber’. Roman Polanski wanted to make a film about the Dreyfus affair and asked me to write a screenplay, and I discovered the story of Colonel Picquart and persuaded him to let me write a novel first (hopefully one day he’ll make the movie). It’s purely a matter of serendipity.
More Answered Questions
Joseph Hargreaves
asked
Robert Harris:
Mr. Harris Firstly, thank you for the hours of enjoyment I got from reading Lustrum. I'm working through the other two as we speak. I have a couple of questions: 1) Why Cicero? Of all the men and women of Rome what was it that attracted you to his story rather than others? 2) As someone who is recently getting into Roman history, what fact/fiction would you recommend as a springboard for deeper exploration?
Suzanne Rebman
asked
Robert Harris:
Mr. Harris, I so enjoyed the narrative in Tyro's voice! Tyro and Cicero are undoubtedly two individuals fated to be together in life, as well as posterity. Can you describe for readers how Cicero viewed his secretary? Surely, Cicero must have made exceptional allowances where his Tyro is concerned? Thank you!
Andrew Cooper
asked
Robert Harris:
I enjoyed Dictator hugely, as I did the rest of the trilogy, and thought I would miss Cicero very much after I turned the last page. But your writing has prompted me to start reading some of his letters and other writing. I have found them fascinating and full of the life force of this remarkable man. If you had to pick just one of his works to recommend to readers, what would it be?
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Jan 28, 2016 06:53AM · flag