A Day in the Life of a Gladiator

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Dressed in armour and clutching a bloody sword, the Roman gladiator is the most iconic figure of the ancient world. Both fascinating and repulsive to us now, he was in his own time a deeply controversial character, by turns hated and idealized – and always at the heart of Roman culture. But what did he really mean to the Romans? What did they see in the gladiator and the spectacle of the games? And what does he reveal to us today about the Roman way of life? Brilliantly written and meticulously researched, this book tells the stories of the gladiators and those who observed them – from grand emperors to lowly slaves – illuminating and analysing the all-consuming passion of the Roman Empire for the spectacle of mortal combat. In doing so, it reveals Roman ideas about everything from freedom and servitude to sex and desire, from courage and cowardice to death and the afterlife.

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ISBN: 9781804948521 Category: Tags: , , ,

Description

‘You will love Harry Sidebottom’s magnificent, blood-drenched study of the life of a gladiator ? Was I not entertained? I absolutely was.’ Dominic Sandbrook, The Times

‘Grippingly original’ Tom Holland

***A TIMES AND ECONOMIST BOOK OF THE YEAR***

In ancient Rome, a single day could decide a gladiator’s fate. Follow in their footsteps with bestselling author Harry Sidebottom.

Take a seat at the feast on the eve of the games and watch as the men marked for combat enjoy their final meal.

At dawn, Roman citizens rush to the Colosseum to see the spectacles: wild-beast hunts, public executions and carefully choreographed violence – all part of a good day’s entertainment.

Watch as the gladiators enter the arena – armour gleaming, shields locked, they step into the light, fighting not just for survival but for the favour of the crowd.

Gripping, immersive and grounded in ancient sources, A Day in the Life of a Gladiator illuminates the reality of Roman life and death in all its glory. This is history as it happened – not in the marble halls of emperors, but on the blood-darkened sand of the arena.

Previously published in hardback as Those Who Are About to Die.

Read a sample here

Additional information

Weight 0.308 kg
Dimensions 19.7 × 12.8 × 2.8 cm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Paperback
Pages

416
Language

English
Edition
Dewey

796.80937 (edition:23)
Readership

General – Trade / Code: K

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