The Real Gladiator - The True Story of Maximus Decimus Meridius

The Real Gladiator - The True Story of Maximus Decimus Meridius written

by Tony Sullivan and published by Pen & Sword Books - £20 -Hardback -Pages 208

“Are you not entertained?” shouts Russell Crowe, playing the part of General Maximus

Decimus Meridius in the Oscar winning 2000 film Gladiator. The crowd, having

witnessed Maximus defeating several gladiators, cheer in response. Film goers

too were indeed entertained with the film grossing nearly half a billion dollars. This

book covers the historical events that film was based on. From the Germanic wars

on the northern frontier to the gladiatorial arena in Rome. From the philosopher emperor,

Marcus Aurelius to the palace intrigues during the reign of his son. We will discover

how Commodus really died and which of the characters actually fought in the arena.

Readers will meet two generals, Pompeianus and Maximianus, who most resemble our hero General Maximus. Also Lucilla, the sister of Commodus, who in reality married her General, but detested him. The book also focuses on warfare, weapons and contemporary battles. It will compare the battle and fight scenes in the film with reality from contemporary sources and modern tests and reenactments.

The reader will discover that fact is not only stranger than fiction, it is often more entertaining. The real history was certainly as much, if not more, treacherous, bloodthirsty, murderous and dramatic than anything the film industry has created. Anyone who answered “yes!” to the question posed by Russell Crowe’s character in the film, will indeed be entertained by this book.

This book is based upon the man Maximus Decimus Meridius, now while you might have seen the film Gladiator, which was fictional, this book is based upon the true story of the man and his life. A really fascinating and gripping read this book explains his life, career and what he managed to achieve. We read about army life, being a gladiator, Marcus Aurelius, taking part in the gladiatorial games, fighting and warfare all tidily done in seven chapters. The book contains a good number of pictures, diagrams and maps which really do add to the overall story. This was a well-written book by the author Tony Sullivan, who I have read before and I find him an excellent writer and to the point on most things. If your into Roman history you should really like this book, it’s not often you get such a good book about an individual soldier.