Goodreads asked Brook Allen:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Brook Allen Back when I was a Sophomore in High School, we had to read Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. I was blown away by the story. From that moment on, I read anything I could get my hands on, regarding 1st Century BC Rome. Somewhere along the way, I read Margaret George's Memoirs of Cleopatra. Then I re-read it. And then I read it once more.

I know I wanted to write on this period. I just had to figure out WHAT or WHO to write about. Back in 2005, I decided on Marcus Antonius-- Marc Antony. So many people have written on Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Cicero, Augustus... Antony has been rather neglected. He's controversial, to be sure. But he had the military background, and adventurous spirit, and was a gregarious sort of guy. I've enjoyed getting to know him!!!

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