Gladiator - Fight For Freedom by Simon Scarrow

A review on the book by Simon Scarrow. This book revolves around Roman History, about how slaves in Rome were treated in 61 B.C.


Marcus, a ten year old, is with his father, talking to him, when his servant comes and tells them that some people are arriving with weapons. Though Marcus and his father, Titus, survive the first attack, their servant and Titus are not able to survive the next and Marcus and his mother are taken into slavery. Marcus escapes, but his mother is not able to. Marcus has to find a way to reach Rome, to reach King Polienus, because KIng Poienus owns Titus his life.
Ten years ago,the Romans had a war with the slaves of Rome, in which the head was about to kill Polienus. If it would not have been for Titus the king would not have been alive that day.
He hides into a ship to reach Rome, but his food and drink supplies are over and he seriously needs something to drink and eat. He gets out of his hiding place, but is caught and comes into slavery again. Though, this slavery is different. Here the master teaches you to be a gladiator. A gladiator is a person who is a slave and learns how to fight others and when he completes his course, he has to fight in public to entertain them. Just like cowboys. Here he meets Brixus, who, he tells him, serves in the Slave war.
Marcus has a scar on his back. But, when Brixus sees it he knows its not a scar. Marcus had been branded by his mother when he was small, and the sign was that of the slaves in the Slave war. This meant only one thing to Brixus, that Marcus' mother is the wife of the leader of the slaves and Marcus, the son of the leader of the slaves. Now, Marcus has to fight with his enemy to entertain some people. Marcus wins and he is ordered to kill his opponent. Marcus does not agree to it and, because he denied his masters, he is said to fight the hungry wolves. During the fight a girl falls into the stadium and the wolves go after her. Marcus saves himself and the girl. He has some severe injuries and is taken to Polineus' room where he comes to know he is a bodygaurd to the girl he saved. In the end, Simon Scarrow tells that Marcus is confused that whom should he call father and the story ends here.
This is a very good book for some one interested in historical adventure. The story is woven around Roman history and provides some good insights into it. Anyone who is interested in history can get to know a lot about Roman History. On the whole, a good book for pre-teens and teens interested in thrills, swords and wars!