Gladiator (Hardcover)

by Richard Watkins (Author) "The gladiator's world was a Roman world..." (more)
Key Phrases: armored gladiator, champion gladiators, gladiator combats, Roman Empire, Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In a starred review, PW called this an "engrossing debut, an eloquent history that will make gladiators seem as real for today's readers as they were over 1,500 years ago." Ages 8-12. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9. The rectangular picture-book format is perfect for a book that describes the incredibly long history of the Roman games. In Watkins's dramatic and realistic charcoal-and-pencil drawings, placed against stark white pages, readers see the bizarre equipment of the gladiators, the exotic animals brought to the arenas, and the complex architecture and advanced technology involved in the construction of the great amphitheaters of the Roman Empire. The 12 brief chapters nicely balance the pictures with amazing facts about the 7 centuries of official arena shows. The horror of blood sports is not shown in the precisely detailed drawings but lies in the statistical information about the numbers of victims and the long popularity of death-centered entertainments. Watkins's research in recent and scholarly books of history reveals the political uses of the games, the central role of the hundreds of amphitheaters throughout the Empire, and the reluctance of both people and government to give up the games. The glamour of the gladiators as superheroes will draw readers to learn about the contests, the weapons, the bloodshed, and the inhumanity of a culture that for centuries celebrated death as public sport. Watkins handles a difficult subject well, stressing the games as so fixed in the history and politics of the Roman world that reminders of their long duration can be seen today. If any single title can turn sports-minded young people into students of history, this is the book to do it.?Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; 1St Edition edition (September 29, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039582656X
• ISBN-13: 978-0395826560
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,331,106 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to gladiatorial games, November 2, 1998

By A Customer

Richard Watkins' book on the gladiators of Rome is a welcome addition to the sparse literature on these most fascinating 'sports figures' and the 'games' they engaged in. Targeted principally for the younger readers, it is still an enjoyable read for anyone interested in the professional swordsmen of the arena. The illustrations are quite good, although a more colourful and detailed medium than graphite might have better served to capture the parade-like splendour of the events. Gladiator is an worthwhile companion to Michael Grant's harder to find (and more detailed) Gladiators (also highly recommended).

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Passionate Study, October 18, 2001

By	Laura Cleveland "misscleveland" (las montanas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I wish Mr. Watkins would write and illustrate other books / this must have been a labour of love. The drawings are masterful!

I work as a children's librarian and I'm scared for the little ones to take this out. It's pretty irreplaceable/ unlike any other.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written concise account of the lives of gladiators., October 5, 1998

By A Customer

This book is not solely intended for the young reader. It contains numerous well illustrated aspects of gladiators in the arena as well as other Roman games.