Spartacus

Rating:
Summary: Literary Art, but not History
Review: To read this book is to discover the author's subtle means of literary deception. There is more art here than fact. The history of Spartacus is told from various viewpoints where we get glimspes of him as a person. In reality he was not the saintly fugure that Fast would have us believe. It seems that Spartacus was in the legions as a solder before deserting and becoming a Gladiator. So much for for the novels pretense of him being a long suffering slave of generations! While the Slave Revolt was hurtful to Rome, it did not present the crushing class warfare that the novel would have us believe. In fact few native Latins joined the Slave Army, it being composed of slaves imported to Rome mostly. That Rome was harsh and cruel towards its subjected peoples there can be little doubt, but the idealogical war of rebellion that the novel would have us believe seems doubtful.
Spartacus was not the invincible paragon of virtue that Mr. Fast
presents. In fact he won battles as well as lost them in a series of campaigns that stretched the length of Italy for almost 4 years. At one point Spartacus might have had an opportunity to take Rome itself, but like Hannibal centuries before, he hesitated. As for his invincible generalship and army, while the slaves certainly administered numerous sharp reverses to Rome, they were not unbeatable. In the final battle Crassus seems to have destroyed over 60,000 of them. So much for the invincible Slave Army! This book is a work of literary art, the writing is compelling, if a bit dogmatic at times. The depiction of Rome as a corrupt, souless place, perhaps accurate, but administered in heavy doses. The Roman aristocracy was no doubt riddled by homosexulity which certainly marked its decadence for sure. Fast seems to condemn it, which might offend some in these Politically Correct times. The book is a worthwhile read if balanced with some good histories on the subject. Taken alone, along with the impressive movie, one would be provided with a very imperfect picture indeed!

Rating:
Summary: Literary Art, but not History
Review: To read this book is to discover the author's subtle means of literary deception. There is more art here than fact. The history of Spartacus is told from various viewpoints where we get glimspes of him as a person. In reality he was not the saintly fugure that Fast would have us believe. It seems that Spartacus was in the legions as a solder before deserting and becoming a Gladiator. So much for for the novels pretense of him being a long suffering slave of generations! While the Slave Revolt was hurtful to Rome, it did not present the crushing class warfare that the novel would have us believe. In fact few native Latins joined the Slave Army, it being composed of slaves imported to Rome mostly. That Rome was harsh and cruel towards its subjected peoples there can be little doubt, but the idealogical war of rebellion that the novel would have us believe seems doubtful.
Spartacus was not the invincible paragon of virtue that Mr. Fast
presents. In fact he won battles as well as lost them in a series of campaigns that stretched the length of Italy for almost 4 years. At one point Spartacus might have had an opportunity to take Rome itself, but like Hannibal centuries before, he hesitated. As for his invincible generalship and army, while the slaves certainly administered numerous sharp reverses to Rome, they were not unbeatable. In the final battle Crassus seems to have destroyed over 60,000 of them. So much for the invincible Slave Army! This book is a work of literary art, the writing is compelling, if a bit dogmatic at times. The depiction of Rome as a corrupt, souless place, perhaps accurate, but administered in heavy doses. The Roman aristocracy was no doubt riddled by homosexulity which certainly marked its decadence for sure. Fast seems to condemn it, which might offend some in these Politically Correct times. The book is a worthwhile read if balanced with some good histories on the subject. Taken alone, along with the impressive movie, one would be provided with a very imperfect picture indeed!