| THE GLADIATOR: THE SECRET HISTORY OF ROME'S WARRIOR SLAVES. |  | Author: Alan. Baker
Publisher: Random House
Category: Book
Buy Used: $6.95
Used (4) from $6.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  17 reviews
Format: Import
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 216
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
ISBN: 0091878802
EAN: 9780091878801
ASIN: 0091878802
Publication Date: 2000
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Condition: Very Good in Very Good jacket Book is in very good shape.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
 Intimacy of the Fighters in Ancient Rome May 18, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Since I was in my teens, movie pictures like "Spartacus", "Demetrius the gladiator" and "Quo Vadis?" inspired me with an inextinguishable thirst to know facts about Gladiators & Roman Circus.
I was able to find more than one book about Spartacus and his revolt (notably Howard Fast's "Spartacus"), but on gladiator's everyday life, origins, evolution among other issues, I was unsuccessful. Worst of all, the recent movie "Gladiator", renew my interest.
Finally I found this book at Amazon's Store (where else?).
It is at the same time an oasis for my thirst and a let down in some aspects.
First the bright side: Mr. Baker has done a very interesting research and shows his findings in a very amenable way.
All the main issues are addressed: origin of gladiatorial institution, organization, evolution and extinction. Weaponry, different kinds of fights, ceremonies, circus emplacement and a glossary of terms are included. A vivid reconstruction of what Circus was like is done in the chapter "A day at the Circus" and some other interesting items about these ancient warriors are also addressed.
The shadowy side: the edition and typography of the book is poor, it looks as it was given to press in a hurry (trying to catch with film success?). Some side stories are well known, other are not directly related with the main object of the book. Bibliography is scarce and no reproductions are shown.
Balancing pros & cons the book is a fairly good read for anyone interested in this particular subject.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
Adequate, entertaing and oft shocking introduction to the subject August 21, 2006
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
My reading of "The Gladiator" was begun with a mote of lowered expectations. However, after reading the preface where the author clearly outlines that this is not meant to be a flawless historical tome, one can sit back, read , and enjoy this entertaining, lurid, and oft informative piece.
The world of the gladiators is often glorified; its virtues extolled where little attention has been paid to the societal motivations, public melieu of the time that fostered the growth of these "munus". The public's view of gladitorial events is rife with dichotomy. On the one hand, adoration is showered upon the contestants/slaves/prisoners, yet on the other, they are scorned, and sentenced to the most horrific of ends. It is this clearly outlined duplicity that personified the Roman Republic's transformation to Empire. Cities were stripped of their freedom; the last being Rome once the famed Rubicon was crossed by Gaius Julius Caesar, individuals subjugated themselves to the will of the state, and a people's bloodlust was satisfied. Rome's supremacy over nature and foe was best exemplified within the confines of the ring. To die under such circumstances was met with fickle resolve, even honor.
Yes, this book is often perfunctory, and written with the novice in mind. But it is at the task of introducing a casual reader to the period that it excels. Precious few books that aim for loftier goals achieve them in such fashion.
Enjoyable Read May 9, 2006
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
I picked this book up with a passing interest in the subject matter. My knowledge on gladiators was basically limited to viewing movies such as Spartacus and Gladiator. So, I was interested in gaining at least a little deeper insight into galdiatorial contests. On that note this book did not disappoint me. It was written in a style and manner that kept my attention and allowed to get a broad overview on the subject without getting bogged down in detail.
If you are looking for a serious scholarly work, then you may be a bit disappointed (at least that seems to be the concensus from reading a few of the other reviews). However, if you are looking for a general overview and easy read, then I think you will find yourself happy with this purchase.
 Awful January 14, 2006
5 out of 11 found this review helpful
Appallingly poor.
Reads like its been written in the back of the school bus on the way to the exam.
Very little info on actual Gladiators, it mostly focuses on tabloid style shock stories and continuously tells the reader how "bad" these things are (like we need to be freaking told!).
This book is divided into chapters, the names of which have little bearing on the actual contents of the chapters and has the most godawful repetitive and disjointed flow i've seen in a book quite a while, random thoughts and stories put down with no coherrent plan.
The Author also refuses to give any sources on anything and so when he tells his stories you'll just have to take it as gospel.
Im telling you, as a Ancient Roman Lecturer, do not get this "book".
 Amateurish June 24, 2005
8 out of 12 found this review helpful
This book reads like an undergrad paper; it is short, repetitive, and derivative, and the author obviously isn't an expert in classics, or military history, or archaeology, or anything that might apply to the topic. He isn't a very good writer, either. Or maybe he just had a poor editor.
This might be good for kids, or for people who know nothing about the ancient world, but I suspect they will be a little disapppointed by the total lack of illustrations; there are no artist's renderings of a gladiator's armor and weapons, no reproductions of ancient paintings or mosaics, and no photos or maps of Rome, an amphitheatre, or anything. If you are interested in gladiators, I suggest you look elsewhere.
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