Octavian Caesar. He's not my favorite character from Roman history, but he's sure an important one.

"Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus Augustus" was his full name at the height of his career. Yet he began as a sickly, large-eared youth who supposedly wore elevator sandals. I wasn't the biggest fan of HBO's ROME, but I did think that the young actor, Max Pirkis did an especially phenomenal job portraying Octavian. "Middling" at swordplay, but possessing nerves of steel. Inconsequential physically, but living into his mid-70's... Octavian had to have been one of history's most shocking surprises!

Octavian and Antony had to have been at odds early on. No two men could ever have been more opposite in their personalities, talents, and interests. At one point, Antony describes Octavian as being "a boy with nothing but a name". But that name was his inherited one from Caesar, and as my Antony discovers along the way, it packs a punch.

Readers of my books won't get many of Octavian's merits, since my work is written from Antony's point of view. However, Octavian was a brilliant strategist, a real prince of propaganda, and surprised everyone at his early age at being an adept ruler. He was a huge risk-taker and was the first living Roman to denote himself as being associated with godhead. After Julius Caesar was proclaimed to be a god, Octavian followed shortly after in proclaiming HIMSELF as "son of the god". This shows up on many coins, the Latin stating "Divi Filius" (Son of the god).

In Second in Command, he steps into the limelight to become a real player, just as Antony was, on the Roman stage of power. Anthony Everitt describes Octavian's eventual politics to be thus: "Rather than insist on a chasm, he built a bridge." He just didn't build it with Antony! Octavian knew his enemy's weaknesses and played on them with surgical precision.

Whenever I go to Rome, Octavian's likenesses are some of my favorites. I took a phenomenal class in Roman Art & Archaeology under Dr. Christina Salowey, PhD of Classical Studies at Hollins University. She taught her students how to recognize different Roman busts and statuary by traits given them by the artists in their day. Octavian's busts and statues all have pincer-like locks in the way his hair rests on his forehead. Now my own husband walks through museums in Rome, pointing out all of his statues to me! This pincer-like trait has always amused me, since Octavian really did  "pinch" his enemies into submission one-by-one. It may have taken time, but he always succeeded. His own words describe his method of advancement: "Festina lente"-- hasten slowly.

My new book, Antonius: Second in Command will portray the beginning tensions between Marc Antony and Octavian. Read on, my friends!

This Friday, on October 25th, my second book , Antonius: Second in Command, will launch. I hope my readers are ready, because it's a book chock-FULL of warfare! There will be plenty of political intrigue and scandal, too. 

From the unexplored regions of Britannia to hill-forts of Gaul, dusty plains in Greece, rugged landscapes of northern Italy, and Rome's unrelenting Senate struggles, Second in Command is a fast-paced ride through the beginnings of Marcus's rise into politics as he becomes one of Caesar's most competent generals and supporters. Much more information from ancient sources is available on this part of his career, so the reader will also experience his character's transformation as he matures and becomes more ruthless through power. I used Plutarch's Life of Antony and Appian of Alexandria's accounts, in particular.

Readers will also be introduced to some fascinating historical characters--some of whom will be new to Second in Command. Though not central to the story in presence or dialogue, Caesar's rival and King of the Gauls, Vercingetorix will loom in the shadows, high above the Roman encampment at Alesia. He's just as influential with his own people as Caesar is with his own army.

Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius are two men of Senatorial rank. Both oppose Caesar's ambitions, becoming eventual enemies of Marcus Antonius, as well. Brutus and Cassius will go to any lengths to attempt restoration of Rome's vanishing Republic.

Cleopatra will re-appear as Egypt's new Queen. She also becomes a mother, bringing her baby to Rome on a state visit to further her favor with Caesar. However, most Romans of Senatorial rank aren't pleased at having a foreign queen so celebrated in their city, right under their noses.

Young Gaius Octavian is Caesar's great-nephew and though brilliant, has an unappealing and abrupt personality, as well as Caesar's own luck! Marcus despises him and a heated rivalry ignites between them that can hardly be contained.

Several other notable women characters are introduced, such as Fulvia. Much-married and of tempestuous nature and a brashness to rival most men, she is always full of surprises--and not necessarily good ones. Another young lady, Volumnia Cytheris will also make her appearance. Though earthy, low-born, and scandalous, she proves to have her own sort of honor.

So with such an exotic cast of characters and places to travel, join me for Antonius: Second in Command, coming THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25th!!!

Now... who wants to win a book??? 

All you have to do is three things: 1) Subscribe to my website, here at https://www.brookallenauthor.com/  2) Go to Brook Allen's Facebook site, and "like" it. 3) Share that post.

That's ALL! You'll be automatically entered to win one of five, signed books. You even get to CHOOSE which book: Antonius: Son of Rome OR Antonius: Second in Command.

I will announce the winners on my website and on Facebook on Thursday, October 31st! 

In ancient Rome, the typical business dress for men was a toga. What most people don't realize is that there were various togas for different occasions and they were every bit as much of a status symbol as a sports car is today. Togas were made of wool and were probably not the most comfortable sort of attire. They could be worn several ways and the popular way of wearing one actually changed over time. Roman art is always an exceptional time-line and indicates that togas were worn as early as 753 BC. These earlier togas were much shorter than most statuary indicate. By Marc Antony's day, they measured about 15-18 feet in length and were cumbersome and difficult to put on. In fact, one hand of the wearer often held the fabric in place! Even some statuary attest to this,  as they're depicted holding their toga with one hand.

So let's discuss the different types of togas that men wore.

Toga pura: This was a toga that common people wore whenever a toga was called for. It was of un-dyed wool and was often whitish in color. Of course, that would also depend on the breed of sheep used. 

Toga Trabea: This toga type was worn by priestly officials or members of the equite class. The garment's edges were decorated with a thin purple strip. In the case of augurs (priests who read omens from nature), the edges of their togas were striped in both purple and gold. The religious office of augur was a life-long honor, and one held by Marc Antony!

​Toga Virilis: Boys assuming adulthood, between the ages of 14 through 17 years wore this toga in their "toga virilis" ceremony. A big deal was made of a boy's first visit to a barber, having his beard shaved. Usually, he would have worn a white toga virilis for this event, signifying his foray into adulthood. In elite families, there were often great celebrations when sons came of age--always adorned in their toga virilis. 

Toga Candida: In Antonius: Second in Command, Marcus will be wearing a stark-white toga candida several times while standing for office. Apparently, the toga candida was a basic toga pura, but enhanced with the application of white chalk. Candidates wanted to stand out in a crowd, and the rubbing of white chalk on their toga made their attire a lot brighter than those of the rest of the populace. In fact, if you take a look at my cover for Second in Command, I was thrilled when the toga candida was selected as the model's clothes. In fact, the Latin word "candida" is where our word "candidate" comes from.

Toga Praetexta: Senators wore these togas, bordered with a broad purplish-red stripe Anyone in such a toga was held in regard, as this type of garment--especially in the Republican Age, meant "imperium", the influential power all Romans craved. Men like Marc Antony, Cicero, Pompeius, and Caesar would all have worn the traditional toga praetexta in the Senate. When Caesar celebrated his Triumphs and following that into the Imperial Age, purple became the traditional color of the toga praetexta for emperors.

Toga Pulla: Worn to funerary rites, this was the official toga of grief. It was always dark in color, and was probably not adorned with any border decorations, keeping it solemn and austere. During Caesar's funerary rites, Antony would have worn a toga pulla, and probably afterward as well, in keeping with a period of mourning. 

One more interesting tidbit. Women who were prostitutes also wore togas! While men usually wore tunics underneath, it's doubtful that these ladies would have worn anything under theirs! 

So there you have it, my friends! Toga, toga, TOGA!!!

Now... who wants to win a book??? 

All you have to do is three things: 1) Subscribe to my website, here at https://www.brookallenauthor.com/  2) Go to Brook Allen's Facebook site, and "like" it. 3) Share that post.

That's ALL! You'll be automatically entered to win one of five, signed books. You even get to CHOOSE which book: Antonius: Son of Rome OR Antonius: Second in Command.

I will announce the winners on my website and on Facebook on Thursday, October 31st! ​

The magnificent "Pious Augustus", located at the Palazzo Massimo Museum in Rome. This would have been a very typical way for a man of power to wear his toga. Whenever he was involved in a religious rite, it's believed he would have covered his head with the back drape of the toga, as Augustus has done in this rendering.

One of my strongest characters in both Antonius: Son of Rome and Antonius: Second in Command is Marc Antony's Mom--Julia Antonia. Julia had a full life and is mentioned several times in Plutarch's writings. In fact, she is described as one of the "most nobly born and admirable women of her time". 

Interestingly enough, she may have suffered with the same tendency to fall "deeply in love", as her son. Perhaps that's where he inherited that propensity--one that probably hurt him in the long run. Julia remarried after Marcus Antonius Creticus, her first husband, died in shame. However, the man she remarried became involved in the troublesome Catiline conspiracy, and Cicero, lifelong foe of the Antonii, had Lentulus executed. (For details on that drama, read Antonius: Son of Rome.)

In Antonius: Second in Command, Julia continues to be vocal regarding Marcus's weaknesses, often reminding him of what he should and shouldn't do. He is his own worst enemy in a lot of situations. But she also shows her courage, grit and grace, when it comes to defending her own. And at last, she'll see her son come into power, as he steps forth into Rome's political scene.

In a lot of ways, Julia Antonia is the penultimate "Roman matron", showing that women DID exercise influence in political affairs, their men's personal lives, and in the life of her most influential son, even if it was behind closed doors. Granted, Antony doesn't always heed her advice, but as he steps out of the shadows and into imperium--the term for power and prominence, it is women like Julia who champion him and stand up for their family. 

Another woman who held sway over some political incidences in my upcoming book, Antonius: Second in Command, was Fulvia, Marc Antony's third wife. She heralded the pathway for other women like Antonia Minora (Marc Antony's youngest daughter), Livia, Messalina, Agrippina, and other women in the Imperial age, who were truly commanding in their own regard, both good and bad.

Julia Antonia holds a special place in my novels. She's actually one of my favorite characters. I pity her in the fact that she had to deal with "Marcus" as a teenager... not an easy task! And I grieved with her; in her weakness for Lentulus in Son of Rome. I cheer her on in the adventures she'll have in both Second in Command and my third book--yet unnamed. She is a woman of her time--a woman raised traditionally-- who faced changing times, a dying government, and learned to embrace the power her son wielded with courage, wisdom, and tenacity.

I hope you enjoy her character as much as I have.


Now... who wants to win a book??? 

All you have to do is three things: 1) Subscribe to my website, here at https://www.brookallenauthor.com/  2) Go to Brook Allen's Facebook site, and "like" it. 3) Share that post.

That's ALL! You'll be automatically entered to win one of five, signed books. You even get to CHOOSE which book: Antonius: Son of Rome OR Antonius: Second in Command.

I will announce the winners on my website and on Facebook on Thursday, October 31st! 

A grand painting by Vincenzo Camuccini, showing noblewomen surrendering their jewelry for the "benefit" of the state, a piece of legislature that briefly comes into effect in my upcoming novel, Antonius: Second in Command.