Gladiator: Fight for Freedom
Encyclopedia
Gladiator: Fight for Freedom is the first book in the Gladiator Series, by Simon Scarrow
and is his first book for young adults.
It tells the story of Marcus Cornelius Primus who is enslaved and becomes a gladiator.
who fought in the last battle against Spartacus
where he saved Pompeius
the life. As a reward he was allowed to choose one of the captured slaves and Pompeius promised to help him whenever he needed his help. Titus chose a slave called Livia and married her two years later. Together they bought a little farm to live a peaceful life and got a son - Marcus, the hero of the whole series.
When Marcus is 10 soldiers come to their farm to get the money his father ows a man called Decimus. Titus can't pay it and after a fight they kill Titus and capture Marcus and Livia. They want to send them on a farm as slaves but Marcus is able to escape and wants to go to Rome to get help from Pompeius. On the way, though, he is enslaved again and brought to a gladiator school in Capua
.
In Capua he's trained to a gladiator. There he and a Celtic boy called Ferax become intense enemies. Marcus has his first fight against him. Marcus wins the fight but refuses to kill Ferax. Ferax is carried out of the arena but as a punishment Marcus has to fight against two wolves, only armored with a dagger. He is able to kill both of them but then passes out.
When he wakes up, he's informed that he's been bought by Julius Ceasar to be the bodyguard of his niece. On the way to Rome he suddenly finds out that in real he's the son of Spartacus.
Book one ends at this point.
The language is rather modern and easy to read.
Simon Scarrow
Simon Scarrow is a UK-based author, born in Nigeria and now based in Norfolk. He completed a master's degree at the University of East Anglia after working at the Inland Revenue, and then went into teaching as a lecturer, firstly at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, then at City College Norwich.He...
and is his first book for young adults.
It tells the story of Marcus Cornelius Primus who is enslaved and becomes a gladiator.
Synopsis
Marus's father, Titus Cornelius Pollenius, was a Roman centurionCenturion
A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
who fought in the last battle against Spartacus
Spartacus
Spartacus was a famous leader of the slaves in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Little is known about Spartacus beyond the events of the war, and surviving historical accounts are sometimes contradictory and may not always be reliable...
where he saved Pompeius
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
the life. As a reward he was allowed to choose one of the captured slaves and Pompeius promised to help him whenever he needed his help. Titus chose a slave called Livia and married her two years later. Together they bought a little farm to live a peaceful life and got a son - Marcus, the hero of the whole series.
When Marcus is 10 soldiers come to their farm to get the money his father ows a man called Decimus. Titus can't pay it and after a fight they kill Titus and capture Marcus and Livia. They want to send them on a farm as slaves but Marcus is able to escape and wants to go to Rome to get help from Pompeius. On the way, though, he is enslaved again and brought to a gladiator school in Capua
Capua
Capua is a city and comune in the province of Caserta, Campania, southern Italy, situated 25 km north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. Ancient Capua was situated where Santa Maria Capua Vetere is now...
.
In Capua he's trained to a gladiator. There he and a Celtic boy called Ferax become intense enemies. Marcus has his first fight against him. Marcus wins the fight but refuses to kill Ferax. Ferax is carried out of the arena but as a punishment Marcus has to fight against two wolves, only armored with a dagger. He is able to kill both of them but then passes out.
When he wakes up, he's informed that he's been bought by Julius Ceasar to be the bodyguard of his niece. On the way to Rome he suddenly finds out that in real he's the son of Spartacus.
Book one ends at this point.
Style
The Gladiator series is mainly meant for teenagers. That's why the story is quite clear, fast and without many details. The fights, though, are described very precisely and, generally, there are many action scenes.The language is rather modern and easy to read.