An authoritative account from an expert author: The Spartacus War is the first popular history of the revolt in English. A leading authority on classical military history; Barry Strauss has used recent archaeological discoveries; ancient documents; and on-site investigations to create the most accurate and detailed account of the Spartacus rebellion ever written—and it reads like a first-rate novel.A thrilling story that has inspired novelists and filmmakers: The real-life Spartacus is even more amazing than his fictional counterparts. A slave from Thrace (modern day Bulgaria); possibly of noble origins; he led a shocking rebellion at a gladiatorial school in Capua in 73 BC. Within two years the ranks of his army; which started with fewer than 100 men; swelled to 60;000; they routed nine Roman armies and for a time controlled all of southern Italy. The Roman general Crassus eventually defeated the slave army and while Spartacus apparently died on the field of battle; his body was never recovered. The legend arose that he escaped and remained undefeated..
#410976 in Books imusti 2016-10-11 2016-10-11Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.88 x .91 x 5.61l; .0 #File Name: 1408880210224 pagesTurtleback Books
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy BladeA very powerful subject and piece of writing.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Tabb T. FarinholtExcellent3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. EXAMPLES OF EXCELLENCEBy Leonard G. KasselThe late American historian and educator J. Rufus Fears considered Winston Churchill one of history's three greatest statesmen; along with Abraham Lincoln and Pericles. I lack the knowledge to comment on this bold proclamation; but Lord Alan Watson's fine book; "Churchill's Legacy;" presents two examples of how the words of a great statesman can shape the destiny of nations. Churchill's seminal speeches; one in Fulton; Missouri; the other in Zurich; Switzerland; were given shortly after the end of WWII. The Fulton speech dealt with the encroachment of Stalin's virulent form of bolshevism and Zurich's with the need for a united Europe to stave off that encroachment; led by the cooperation of the pariah; Germany; and its implacable foe; France. A truly radical idea in 1946. "Legacy" packs a lot of information into a relatively few number of pages. The writing is exceptionally clear; occasionally peppered with wit (Churchill's tenuous relationship with Roosevelt is described as "a courtship without consummation."). The chapters are brief; arranged in a way that gives the personalities and background events a dramatic thrust. The speeches are presented in full and don't disappoint. As Watson points out; in little more than six months Churchill had "changed perceptions and altered the horizons of the West. The final section of the book effectively summarizes each speech's immediate impact as well as their influence on the geopolitics of the ensuing decades. Read today; there is a prescience about them that borders on the eerie. Although; in the course of the narrative; Lord Watson fleshes out a Churchill with warts and all; the overriding impression is of a man with great oratorical skills and unsurpassed political genius. I highly recommend this book. P.S. After reading "Churchill's Legacy;" one has to wonder...could Professor Fears be right?
