Robert Harris Books in Order: From Fatherland to Agrippa
Robert Harris is a British novelist and former journalist known for turning historical events, political institutions, and real people into compelling works of fiction. His books explore everything from an alternative version of Nazi Germany to the final years of the Roman Republic, often combining careful historical detail with the momentum of a thriller.
This guide covers his novels in publication order, the correct reading sequence for the Cicero Trilogy, and his nonfiction books. It also explains which titles are connected, so you can choose your next read without accidentally starting in the middle of a series.
Robert Harris Books in Publication Order
The following list covers Harris’s standalone novels and the three books in the Cicero Trilogy, arranged by their original publication years. The Cicero novels are also listed separately below in their recommended reading order.
1. Fatherland (1992)
Fatherland is an alternate-history thriller set in a world where Nazi Germany won the Second World War. In 1964, a German detective investigating a suspicious death uncovers a secret that could threaten the political order. The novel combines a police investigation with an unsettling question about how history might have unfolded differently.
2. Enigma (1995)
Set during the Second World War, Enigma follows the people working to break German naval codes at Bletchley Park. Tom Jericho, a brilliant cryptanalyst, returns to work after a breakdown and becomes involved in a mystery that extends beyond codebreaking. The novel blends espionage, wartime secrecy, and personal danger.
3. Archangel (1998)
In Archangel, a British historian travels to Russia and becomes involved in a search connected to Joseph Stalin’s hidden past. A mysterious notebook may hold clues to a secret with potentially explosive consequences. Harris combines post-Soviet Russian settings with political intrigue and a race to uncover the truth.
4. Pompeii (2003)
Set in the days before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, Pompeii follows Attilius, a Roman engineer responsible for maintaining the region’s aqueduct system. As the water supply begins to fail, his investigation uncovers problems that go beyond an ordinary engineering breakdown. The approaching volcanic disaster gives this historical thriller its powerful sense of urgency.
5. Imperium (2006)
Imperium begins the Cicero Trilogy and follows the rise of Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman lawyer and statesman. The story is narrated by Tiro, Cicero’s secretary, who observes the political maneuvering, legal battles, and personal ambitions surrounding his employer. It provides the foundation for the two novels that follow.
6. The Ghost (2007)
Also published in some markets as The Ghost Writer, this political thriller follows a professional ghostwriter hired to work on the memoirs of a former British prime minister. What appears to be a lucrative writing assignment soon becomes a dangerous investigation into political secrets. The novel explores the relationship between public image, private history, and the people who control a political narrative.
7. Lustrum (2009)
The second Cicero novel continues the story of Roman politics as Cicero rises to greater power. His legal and political successes bring him into conflict with influential figures whose ambitions threaten the Republic. Lustrum was published in the United States under the title Conspirata, so readers should not mistake the two titles for separate books.
8. The Fear Index (2011)
The Fear Index centers on a brilliant physicist who develops an advanced computer system designed to identify opportunities in financial markets. As the technology begins behaving in disturbing ways, the distinction between calculated risk and genuine danger becomes increasingly difficult to recognize. This contemporary thriller explores artificial intelligence, financial markets, and the consequences of creating systems that may outpace their creators.
9. An Officer and a Spy (2013)
This historical novel revisits the Dreyfus affair, the scandal that divided France in the late nineteenth century. It follows Georges Picquart, a French army officer who discovers evidence suggesting that the conviction of Alfred Dreyfus was unjust. The story examines institutional corruption, antisemitism, and the personal risks of challenging powerful authorities.
10. Dictator (2015)
Dictator concludes the Cicero Trilogy. As the Roman Republic approaches its collapse, Cicero faces increasingly dangerous political rivals and must navigate a world in which loyalty can be temporary and power can change hands violently. The novel brings the trilogy’s account of Cicero’s career toward its dramatic conclusion.
11. Conclave (2016)
Conclave takes place inside the Vatican following the death of a pope. Cardinal Thomas Lawrence is responsible for overseeing the secretive process through which the next pope will be elected, but rivalries and unexpected revelations complicate the proceedings. The novel turns an unfamiliar institutional process into a tense political thriller.
12. Munich (2017)
Set around the 1938 Munich Agreement, this novel follows British and German characters caught up in the diplomatic negotiations involving Adolf Hitler and European leaders. Personal relationships intersect with the political struggle over whether war can be prevented. Harris uses the historical setting to explore appeasement, diplomacy, and the uncertainty facing Europe on the eve of the Second World War.
13. The Second Sleep (2019)
The Second Sleep begins in an apparently medieval English society, where a young priest investigates the death of a country parson. His discoveries gradually challenge the accepted account of the world’s past. The novel combines mystery with speculative elements and raises questions about knowledge, faith, technology, and the fragility of civilization.
14. V2 (2020)
Set during the final months of the Second World War, V2 follows the German development and deployment of the V-2 rocket. The story moves between a German engineer involved in the rocket program and a British intelligence officer working to identify and stop the attacks. It offers a tense look at wartime technology, military strategy, and the people caught on opposing sides of a deadly campaign.
15. Act of Oblivion (2022)
Act of Oblivion follows the hunt for two Englishmen who participated in the execution of King Charles I. After the monarchy is restored, the men become fugitives, pursued by authorities determined to bring them to justice. Harris turns a historical manhunt into a story about political revenge, survival, and the long consequences of civil war.
16. Precipice (2024)
Precipice is set in Britain during the summer of 1914, as Europe approaches the First World War. The story follows a relationship involving Prime Minister H. H. Asquith and Venetia Stanley, while political and military developments place increasing pressure on the government. The novel combines private correspondence and personal drama with the growing international crisis.
17. Agrippa (2026)
Agrippa returns to ancient Rome and explores the political world surrounding Marcus Agrippa and the emergence of a new Roman order. It expands Harris’s long-running interest in the people, ambitions, and power struggles that shaped Roman history. Readers who enjoy the historical setting of the Cicero Trilogy may find this a natural next choice, although it is not a fourth Cicero novel.
The Cicero Trilogy Books in Order
The Cicero Trilogy is Robert Harris’s principal connected novel series. Read the books in this order to follow Cicero’s political career and the changing fortunes of the Roman Republic.
1. Imperium (2006)
The first book follows Cicero’s early rise as a lawyer and politician. Tiro’s narration offers a close view of the legal cases, alliances, and strategic decisions that help Cicero build his reputation.
2. Lustrum (2009)
Cicero gains political influence but faces growing threats from powerful rivals. The book explores the fragile balance between ambition, principle, and survival in Roman public life.
3. Dictator (2015)
The final installment follows Cicero through the Republic’s increasingly violent political struggles. It completes the trilogy’s account of his career and the collapse of the political world he tried to defend.
Important title note: Lustrum and Conspirata are alternate titles for the same second novel, not two separate installments.
Robert Harris Standalone Novels in Order
If you prefer not to commit to a series, these novels can generally be read independently. The list follows publication order.
| Year | Book | Main subject |
| 1992 | Fatherland | Alternate history and Nazi Germany |
| 1995 | Enigma | Second World War codebreaking |
| 1998 | Archangel | Stalin-era secrets and modern Russia |
| 2003 | Pompeii | Ancient Rome and the eruption of Vesuvius |
| 2007 | The Ghost | Political memoirs and hidden secrets |
| 2011 | The Fear Index | Artificial intelligence and financial markets |
| 2013 | An Officer and a Spy | The Dreyfus affair |
| 2016 | Conclave | The election of a pope |
| 2017 | Munich | The Munich Agreement of 1938 |
| 2019 | The Second Sleep | A mystery in a post-catastrophe society |
| 2020 | V2 | German rocket technology in wartime |
| 2022 | Act of Oblivion | The pursuit of regicides after the English Civil War |
| 2024 | Precipice | British politics on the eve of the First World War |
| 2026 | Agrippa | Power and politics in ancient Rome |
The Cicero Trilogy novels—Imperium, Lustrum, and Dictator—are excluded from this standalone list because they belong together as a series.
Robert Harris Nonfiction Books in Order
Harris began his career as a journalist and has also written nonfiction about politics, government, and historical controversies. The following list is arranged by original publication year.
1. A Higher Form of Killing (1982)
Co-written with Jeremy Paxman, this book examines the history and development of chemical and biological warfare. It explores how governments have developed these weapons and the military and political questions surrounding their use.
2. Gotcha! The Government, the Media and the Falklands Crisis (1983)
This book examines the relationship between the British government and the media during the Falklands War. It focuses on how information was communicated and controlled during a major international conflict.
3. The Making of Neil Kinnock (1984)
This political book examines Neil Kinnock and his development as a leading figure in the British Labour Party. It offers a journalistic look at the political personality and party environment surrounding his rise.
4. Good and Faithful Servant (1990)
This work is an unauthorized biography of Bernard Ingham, the British civil servant and press secretary associated with Margaret Thatcher. It explores the role of a senior government communicator and the influence of political messaging.
5. Selling Hitler (1986)
Although listed here after the other titles for clarity, Selling Hitler was originally published in 1986, so it belongs before Good and Faithful Servant in strict chronological order. The book investigates the notorious fake Hitler diaries scandal and the people who helped turn forged documents into an international publishing sensation.
Correct nonfiction publication order: A Higher Form of Killing (1982), Gotcha! (1983), The Making of Neil Kinnock (1984), Selling Hitler (1986), and Good and Faithful Servant (1990).
Which Robert Harris Book Should You Read First?
The best starting point depends on what you enjoy most.
- For alternate history: Start with Fatherland. Its imagined postwar world creates a strong hook for readers who enjoy historical what-if scenarios.
- For ancient Rome: Begin with Imperium and continue through the Cicero Trilogy. The three books offer a connected portrait of Roman politics.
- For political suspense: Try The Ghost or Conclave. Both explore the hidden workings of powerful institutions, though in very different settings.
- For World War II: Choose Enigma, Munich, or V2. Each focuses on a different part of the conflict and its surrounding political or technological challenges.
- For historical investigations: An Officer and a Spy and Act of Oblivion are strong choices for readers interested in real events and the pursuit of truth or justice.
- For a newer release: Agrippa offers another entry into Harris’s fiction about ancient Rome.
You do not need to read all of Harris’s books chronologically. Outside the Cicero Trilogy, each novel provides its own setting, characters, and central conflict.
What Makes Robert Harris Books Different?
Historical research meets thriller pacing
Harris often builds his stories around real events, political institutions, or historical figures. Instead of presenting history as a simple sequence of facts, he uses mysteries, investigations, and personal conflicts to make the events feel immediate.
Power and secrecy are recurring themes
Many of his novels feature characters who uncover information that powerful people want to keep hidden. Whether the setting is a wartime codebreaking center, the Vatican, or ancient Rome, the tension often comes from the gap between what the public believes and what is happening behind closed doors.
The settings change from book to book
Harris moves between ancient history, twentieth-century Europe, contemporary political life, and speculative fiction. This variety makes it easy to choose a book based on your preferred period or subject without needing to read his entire bibliography.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many novels has Robert Harris written?
His bibliography includes the three novels in the Cicero Trilogy and a growing collection of standalone novels. Agrippa, published in 2026, is his latest listed novel in the bibliography covered by this guide. Nonfiction books and shorter works are additional to the fiction count.
Is the Cicero Trilogy based on real history?
Yes. The novels draw on the life and political career of Marcus Tullius Cicero, a real Roman lawyer, orator, and statesman. Harris dramatizes historical events and relationships to create a connected narrative.
Is Conspirata the same as Lustrum?
Yes. Conspirata is the US title for the novel published as Lustrum in the UK. You only need to read one edition of the book.
Are Robert Harris’s books connected?
Most of his novels are standalones. The main connected sequence is the Cicero Trilogy, which should be read in publication order. Agrippa also explores ancient Rome, but it is not part of that trilogy.
What is Robert Harris’s latest book?
Agrippa was published in 2026. Check the latest publisher catalog if you are looking for a particular regional edition or a future release.
Should I read Robert Harris books in chronological order?
You can read the standalone novels in any order. For a historical overview of his development as a novelist, publication order is useful; for the Cicero Trilogy, reading the three books in sequence is recommended.
Final Thoughts
Robert Harris’s books offer a compelling mix of historical detail, political intrigue, and suspense. From the alternate history of Fatherland to the ancient Roman world of the Cicero Trilogy and the more recent Agrippa, his novels cover very different periods while returning to questions of power, ambition, truth, and responsibility.
If you want a connected reading experience, start with Imperium, then read Lustrum and Dictator. If you prefer to choose one self-contained story, Fatherland, Pompeii, Conclave, and An Officer and a Spy each offer a distinct entry point into his work.
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