Brook Allen has a passion for ancient history—from1st century BC Rome to the 19th century and beyond. Her completed work is a trilogy on the life of Marcus Antonius—Marc Antony. The first installment, Antonius: Son of Rome was published in March 2019. It follows Antony as a young man, from the age of eleven, when his father died in disgrace, until he’s twenty-seven and finally meets Cleopatra for the first time. Book two, Antonius: Second in Command, was published in the fall of 2019 and details Antony’s rise to power alongside the notorious Julius Caesar.
In researching the Antonius Trilogy, Brook’s travels led her to Italy, Egypt, Greece, and even Turkey to explore places where Antony once lived, fought, and eventually, died. While researching abroad, she consulted scholars and archaeologists well-versed in Hellenistic and Roman history, specifically pinpointing the late Republican Period in Rome. Brook belongs to the Historical Novel Society and attends conferences as often as possible to study craft and meet fellow authors. Though she graduated from Asbury University with a B.A. in Music Education, Brook has always loved writing. She completed a Masters program at Hollins University with an emphasis in Ancient Roman studies, which prepared her for authoring The Antonius Trilogy.
Presently, Brook is working on a much different work, closer to home. It will feature the story of Julia Clark, explorer William Clark's first wife, as she lives through the turbulent period of the Louisiana Purchase, the death of Meriwether Lewis, and most importantly, the work leading to the publishing of the Lewis & Clark Journals.
Brook teaches full-time as a Music Educator and works in a rural public-school district near Roanoke, Virginia. Her personal interests include travel, cycling, hiking in the woods, reading, and spending downtime with her husband and amazing dog, Jak. She lives in the heart of southwest Virginia in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.
More Books by
Brook Allen
"A SUSPENSEFUL, INSIGHTFUL, AND BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN STORY" Margaret George, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Memoirs of Cleopatra
1st Place Winner in the 2020 CIBA CHAUCER DIVISION, 2020 INDIE B.R.A.G. MEDALLION AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE RECIPIENT WINNER of the Coffee Pot Book Club BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD, 2019 Silver Medal recipient in the Reader's Favorite Book Reviewers Awards, 2020 "...
A THOROUGHLY ENGAGING STORY...HARD TO PUT DOWN." Griff Hosker, Author of LORD EDWARD'S ARCHER
Review: Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite~ Brook Allen's Antonius: Son of Rome is about the life of young Marcus Antonius after his father dies in disgrace in Rome. The Roman Republic is waning and the young man yearns to restore his family’s honor. Handsome and possessed of military talent, he's now entering manhood and falls prey to the excesses of a licentious Roman society. After an episode of whoring, gambling, and drinking, he finds himself mired in debt and grieving the death of his wife and unborn child. The political situation is dangerous while personal and political tragedy haunts his family. With help from a relative, the rising politician Julius Caesar, he finally earns a military commission, where he struggles to earn the respect and admiration of the soldiers, proconsuls, and kings that he deals with on his way to his destiny. Antonius: Son of Rome by Brook Allen is the first installment in a trilogy about the life of Marcus Antonius. More popularly known as Marc Anthony, a lot of books have been written about him but none is probably more introspective than Brook Allen's compelling trilogy. One of history's most controversial figures, Marc Anthony's life seems like an open book, but it is largely based on accounts written by his enemies. Allen's book, however, is an objective and microscopic look at the early life of Rome's iconic symbol of love and power. Antonius: Son of Rome is a revealing story of the young Marc Anthony. Growing up in the shadow of a disgraced father, this noble son of Rome has a very uncertain teenage life but he will go on to become a very promising soldier and this is just the beginning of his remarkable life story. Kudos to Brook Allen for introducing us to the real person behind the enigma that is Marcus Antonius. After young Marcus Antonius’s father dies in disgrace, he yearns to restore his family’s honor during the final days of Rome’s dying Republic. Marcus is rugged, handsome, and owns abundant military talent, but upon entering manhood, he falls prey to the excesses of a violent society. His whoring, gambling, and drinking eventually reap dire consequences. Through a series of personal tragedies, Marcus must come into his own through blood, blades, and death. Once he finally earns a military commission, he faces an uphill battle to earn the respect and admiration of soldiers, proconsuls, and kings. Desperate to redeem his name and carve a legacy for himself, he refuses to let warring rebels, scheming politicians, or even an alluring young Egyptian princess stand in his way.
Antonius: Son of Rome
Brook Allen
The Antonius Trilogy Book 1
Book Excerpt or Article
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