Spartacus: The Gladiator

The first of two epic novels which tell the story of one of the most charismatic heroes history has ever known - Spartacus, the gladiator slave who took on and nearly defeated the might of Rome, during the years 73-71 BC.'Gritty, passionate and violent, this thrilling book is a real page-turner' STEVEN PRESSFIELD'Plenty of action' INDEPENDENT'Fast-paced and impeccably researched' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETYHistorically very little is known about Spartacus. We know that he came from Thrace, a land north of Greece, that he once fought in the Roman legions and that, during two fateful years, he led a slave army which nearly brought Rome to its knees.In Ben Kane's brilliant novel, we meet Spartacus as he returns to Thrace, ready to settle down after a decade away. But a new king has usurped the throne. Treacherous and violent, he immediately seizes Spartacus and sells him to a Roman slave trader looking for new gladiators.The odyssey has begun which will see Spartacus become one of the greatest legends of history, the hero of revolutionaries from Karl Marx to Che Guevara, immortalised on screen, and now brought to life in Ben Kane's great bestseller - a novel which takes the story to its halfway point and is continued in Spartacus: Rebellion.Praise for Spartacus:'A thrilling and captivating Roman adventure' 5-star reader review'An absolute page-turner' 5-star reader review'Kane's vivid writing and graphic descriptions give an excellent sense of time and place' 5-star reader review'Utterly captivating!' 5-star reader review'Plenty of action, drama and conflict' 5-star reader review'Ben Kane never disappoints!' 5-star reader review