Exclusive interview with author Ben Kane and a review of his new novel about Spartacus and the Dionysian priestess Ariadne
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Gabrielle Pantera
“Visiting the places where Spartacus had lived and fought was incredible and at times, very moving,” says Spartacus the Gladiator author Ben Kane. “It helped me to form more of an idea of the man and his times. I have written about this time period in Roman history before, so thankfully, much of the background information was already in my head.”
Spartacus the Gladiator takes the well-known story of Spartacus and gives it a new and original twist. The descriptions are gritty with paint a vivid picture of life with the Romans. Rich with historical detail, the novel moves at a good clip but sometimes the dialog feels too modern, doesn’t quite suit the story. It’s a fast read. At times the novel is so graphic it’s brutal.
We are introduced to a weary Spartacus after he has been away from home for almost a decade serving in the Roman army. When he returns home to Thrace he finds his father has been murdered. His plan for revenge on king Kotys fails as he is betrayed but to help him escape the king the Dionysian priestess Ariadne says she’s married to Spartacus, and when he is sold into slavery, she goes with him. They are brought with other slaves to Capua where the gladiators train.
In addition to traveling to Italy to see the places where Spartacus had lived, fought and died, Kane researched what had previously been written about him. “I read every textbook on Spartacus that I could find, including one gem, which has every single word that has survived about him from ancient texts.”
The idea for Spartacus the Gladiator in March 2009, while Kane was chatting with his agent about ideas for books. “The topic of Spartacus came up,” says Kane. “He’s someone whom I have regarded highly since I was a boy, so the idea of writing a book about him appealed immensely.”
Kane has four published bestselling books. “My first three novels were a trilogy also set in Rome, some 20 years after the Spartacus rebellion,” says Kane. The first of these is called The Forgotten Legion. The main characters are a boy and girl, twin slaves whose lives unfold against a background of treachery, gladiator fights, political intrigue and major battles.
Kane’s novel Hannibal: Enemy of Rome has yet to be published in the U.S. It’s about the lives of two families, one Roman, one Carthaginian, during the Second Punic War between 218 and 202 B.C. It is the first of a series of four novels about that epic conflict.
According to Kane, some of the best things to happen with his novels have to do with readers. “I have one reader who named her son Brennus because she liked the character from The Forgotten Legion so much. Another reader met his now-fiancée because of The Forgotten Legion as well. Having talked about the book, they began seeing each other. Eventually, they became engaged and are to be married soon.” Kane says he loves to hear from readers, to pop by his site or to make contact on Twitter or Facebook.
Ben Kane lives near Bristol, in southwest England. He was born in Nairobi, Kenya, to Irish parents. At age 7 the family returned to Ireland, where Kane went through school and university. He’s lived in the UK since 2001.
Kane is visiting the U.S. virtually, with an extensive blog tour for his books:
www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/ben-kane-author-of-spartacus-the-gladiator-on-tour/
Spartacus: The Gladiator author Ben Kane. Hardcover: 480 pages, Publisher: St. Martin’s Press; First Edition edition (June 5, 2012). Language: English, ISBN: 9781250001160
