The Gladiator: The Secret History of Rome's Warrior Slaves

This is a comprehensive account of the gladiators from the very beginning of their era until the time of their decline. The amphitheatres, the emperors who sealed the fate of the Games and the Roman Empire (Nero, Caligula, Commodus, Tiberius, Claudius pay us a visit), the variety of the spectacles, the mechanisms and the sheer, unthinkable cruelty of this ‘‘institution'', the holy martyrs who became prey to the beasts because of the strength of their faith.

However, despite the enganging and simple language Baker uses, he commits a mistake that I have come to found more and more often in History books of late. He interrupts his narration by inserting his personal comments and opinions and passes judgement without presenting any concrete evidence to support them, other than a ‘‘recent historians believe such-and-such...'''. I am sorry, but you are writing neither a book of speculative fiction, nor a thesis to support your standing. You are writing to inform. You're supposed to write a History book not the script of ‘‘Gladiator'' or ‘‘Rome''. Since I have read quite a lot of books about the Roman times, this one falls terribly short in comparison. This is a major fault.

It may be an average starting point for the readers who wish to familiarize themselves with the subject, but for the Roman-era aficionado it is terribly lacking.