Spartacus the Gladiator

Spartacus has just returned to his home in Thrace from soldiering for Rome, to find that his father has been killed and a ruthless king has taken his place.  Unfortunately Spartacus' plan for a revolt is overturned and he is sold into slavery.  He is taken, with his two friends, Getas and Seuthes, to Capua where there is a school for gladiators.  Also travelling with them is the priestess Ariadne, under the protection of Spartacus.

Not long after arriving at the school, a young citizen volunteers to become a gladiator.  Carbo is tested against Spartacus, who could have killed the lad. Not doing so gains the respect of many of his fellow gladiators, however some still are at odds with him.

After a fight to the death in front of Crassus, the richest man in Rome, Spartacus decides that it would be best to break out of the school.  He does get a number of men to join in on his plans.  The breakout is bloody, and Spartacus comes away with only about 70 men.  They head to Vesuvius and set up camp, awaiting Rome's reaction.

Rome responds with a force of three thousand, but they are not true legionnaires.  A surprise attack by Spartacus' force defeats them.  His small army now has weapons and shields, but they need to be trained to fight as the Romans do.  News of the victory spreads quickly and before long slaves are flocking to Vesuvius to join Spartacus.  Rome sends a second, larger force, which is similarly repulsed.

Unfortunately, now the seasons are changing and the size of Spartacus' army has grown, but they are largely untrained and must be fed.  Will Spartacus be able to control his ever growing army of untrained slaves?  Can he keep the fifty thousand men and women together and trek them northwards to the Alps?

Author Ben Kane provides the fan of historical fiction an excellent, fast paced novel.  Based on real events, it only tells a portion of the story about Spartacus, so I find myself looking forward to the sequel.