Spartacus was a thracian slave in italy who escaped and became one of the slave leaders of the third servile war. It is a communist book in the best sense its about power, class relations, struggle against oppression but seen through the perspective of the romans and their slaves. I was completely unprepared for how good this book is. This is as stunning a book about freedom as you will ever read. Spartacus is a powerful novel of ancient slave society with rich meaning for the liberation struggle of our day. Spartacus was born a roman slave trained to kill for the idle pleasure of his masters, he sparked the revolt against their cruel, degenerate rule. Spartacus edition 1 available in paperback, audio mp3 on cd, audio cd. Immediately download the spartacus film summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching spartacus film. The spartacus is the official student news site for the miami country day upper school in miami, florida. For example, the theme of selfcenteredness versus selfsacrifice is evident in the moral transformation of gracchus, a corrupt politician. It was originally published in 1951 by fast himself, after being turned down by eve. The film is based on true historical events surrounding a slave revolt led by a slave called spartacus in 73 b.
Howard fast 1914 2003 was one of the most prolific american writers of the twentieth century. Spartacus edition 1 available in paperback, nook book. Howard fast papers, 19032006 university of pennsylvania. Starting with only seventyfour men, a gladiator named spartacus incited a rebellion that threatened rome. Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts. The novel centers on multiple, but connected, themes. Former library book, with usual library trappings with moderate to heavy shelf and reading wear, tape reinforced an otherwise solid spine.
A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. Fast became a socialist after reading the iron heel, a novel written by jack london. He has won numerous awards for his writing, including an emmy award, the national jewish book award, and the schomburg award for race relations. Spartacus is a slave who is bought by a lanista, a person who owns, sells, and fights gladiators, whose name is batiatus. Hardcover 1st ed 2nd printing in the original light blue papered boards signed by howard fast without inscription direct to front endpaper, no text markings, not exlib, no dj, light shelfedge wear to boards, a little tanning to page block, gift inscription to front pastedown, else clean.
According to these chaps, spartacus was from thrace present day bulgaria and either. He was a bestselling author of more than eighty works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenplays. Spartacus, written in 1951 by howard fast, is the story of a gladiator, named spartacus. He grew up the son of immigrants in new york city, and published his first novel after high school. It was originally published in 1951 by the author himself, after being turned down by every mainstream publisher of the day because of fast s blacklisting for his communist party sympathies. The spartacus war is the extraordinary story of the most famous slave rebellion in the ancient world, the fascinating true story behind a legend that has been the inspiration for novelists, filmmakers, and revolutionaries for 2,000 years. Spartacus was the gladiator who led the hopeless men, women and children out of the kitchens, the fields, the slavepens and the stockades, in the greatest rebellion the ancient world ever saw. The grandson of jewish immigrants from ukraine, he was raised in a poor family, and his politics have always been an important part of his life and work. The legions of marcus licinius crassus defeated spartacus army two years later and had 6,000 of those captured crucified along the appian way as a lesson to those who dared to challenge rome. Lucky for batiatus, spartacus spots the assassin and stops him before he. A most wonderful book there hasnt been a novel in years that can do a job on readers. As an adult knowing about howard fast s background when he wrote the book, i could read his own struggles in the 50s portrayed through the lives of the greatest generation of its time, the people of the roman empire. In january of 1950, i began to lay out in my mind and assemble material for a book on spartacus and the servile insurrection which he led. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.
Jan 17, 2010 in some ways the series is more historically faithful than either the 1960 stanley kubrick picture or its source, howard fasts 1951 novel, which was in part an allegory denouncing mccarthyism. Spartacus by howard fast 1996, paperback for sale online. Order of howard fast books howard fast 19142003 was an american author of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and screenplays. Quotations by howard fast, american novelist, born november 11, 1914. Spartacus by howard fast 14 editions first published in 1951 read listen. Howard fast s novelization of the slave revolt in italy between 7371 bc is both a work of left wing advocacy and a tremendously well done novel. Available in the national library of australia collection.
The iron heel was my first real contact with socialism. The son of immigrants, fast grew up in new york city and pub. As it turns out, spartacus was a natural fit for comics, especially seeing as how the series was shot in an overexposed video style, reminiscent of 300. Read the essential details about henry howard, earl of surrey that includes quotations and the main facts of his life. Now, a long time later, once a year or so i reread the copy i still have for the enjoyment, for the character development, for the history, and for the political agenda. His historical fiction is some of the liveliest, creative, and informative. Spartacus summary and analysis like sparknotes free book.
Oct 04, 2014 howard fast 19142003 we have three main ancient sources of spartacus. Spartacus by fast, howard and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Spartacus, the 1960 film directed by stanley kubrick, is based on the life of a real man by the same name who lived from 111 bc to 71 bc. A solid copy of this important, hard to find historical novel. Howard fast s novel spartacus is a story that represents a parallel between two imperialistic cultures. Howard fast s book is filled with drama and character development that greatly enhances the story with which most people are familiar. Spartacus is his epic achievement, a thrilling, eloquent testament to mans unquenchable courage and his passion for freedom. This captivating and compelling actionadventure spectacle chronicles the saga of a heroic thracian gladiators rebellion against his roman captors. In addition to the immigrants novels, howard fast is the author of greenwich, being red, my glorious brothers, time and the riddle, and spartacus the basis for the acclaimed film, among many other books. Howard fasts 1951 novel was the inspiration for the fantastic kirk douglas movie.
Mar 12, 2003 howard fast was one of the most prolific american writers of the twentieth century. Spartacus is a 1951 historical novel by american writer howard fast. Spartacus, a fictionalization of a slave revolt in ancient rome in 71 b. Topics english, inspire, revolutionary story collection arvindgupta. Most people know the film, few know that it is based on this book by communist author howard fast. Spartacus book by howard fast half price books marketplace.
Octavo, original russet cloth, original dust jacket. The new york timesbestselling author of spartacus evokes the postwar jewishamerican experience through the story of a compassionate but conflicted rabbi. Of course, sexual mores have changed and the politics seems outmoded but, these facts dont take away from the vivid descriptions and compelling characters in spartacus. A fighter for antifascist causes and a member of the communist party, he was jailed for three months during the 1950s for refusing to testify about his. Spartacus 2000 read online free book by howard fast in. Compared to the movie, the book is a slowpaced introspective affair.
London anticipated fascism as no other writer of the. A party of rich romans travels the via appia from rome to capua. Howard fast, the son of a factory worker, was born in new york city on 11th november, 1914. The son of immigrants, fast grew up in new york city and published his first novel upon finishing high school in 1933. Howard fast is underrated its a shame his books are not more widely read these days. Howard fasts book is filled with drama and character development that greatly enhances the story with which most people are familiar. Spartacus by howard fast, 1996 online research library. Jun 10, 2016 so naturally, in order to draw viewers from an extended audience, independent comic book publisher devils due created a 4part prequel comic series titled spartacus. Howard fast 19142003 was one of the most prolific american writers of the twentieth century. Dalton trumbos adaptation of a novel by howard fast and a distinguished cast that included douglas, laurence olivier, peter ustinov, and charles laughton. Cunningham american novelist, short story writer, biographer, nonfiction writer, memoirist, playwright, and. Howard fast november 11, 1914 march 12, 2003 howard melvin fast was an american novelist and television writer.
Spartacus begins with three young roman patricians caius, his sister. Howard melvin fast 19142003 was a bestselling and prolific american author of historical fiction, mysteries, and science fiction, known for his books on. Translated into eightytwo languages across the world, they have sold millions of copies. The writer howard fast, who has died aged 88, was the last surviving american recipient of the stalin peace prize. While hitchhiking and riding railroads around the country to find odd jobs, he wrote his first novel, two valleys, published in.
Spartacus by howard fast meet your next favorite book. During spartacus time fighting in the pits, an assassination attempt is made on batiatus life. Spartacus by howard fast 1951 abebooks passion for books. It is brilliantly written, and in certain sections probably represents the high point in the development of howard fast s superb craftsmanship. Spartacus, a fictionalization of a slave revolt in ancient rome in 71 bc, is well known today because of the 1960 movie starring kirk douglas and laurence olivier. Fiction, spartacus, in fiction, rome in fiction, history, gladiators in fiction. At the outset of the novel, the slave revolt has recently been beaten. Jul 22, 2019 open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. It is about the historic slave revolt led by spartacus around 71 bce. At solonius request, the merchant ovidius hires two men to murder batiatus while he is watching his man fight.
C after a violent and devastating slave uprising that lasted about 4. For further information on our policies or comments and opinions you would like to submit, please contact us at email protected. Spartacus was arguably kubricks mostaccessible film, but it was also his mostanonymous film and the one over which he had the least control. Historical inaccuracies in spartacus spartacus, the 1960 film. The book inspired the 1960 film directed by stanley kubrick and the 2004 tv adaptation by robert dornhelm. The story of spartacus and his army of slave warriors is one of the great epics of history. When we were kids, growing up in northern new jersey, sundays meant two things. Howard fast is also remembered as a leftist that was black listed for years and his political views are not missing from spartacus. Spartacus by fast, howard and a great selection of related books.
Spartacus has 10 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Howard fast was one of the most prolific american writers of the twentieth century. Batiatus trains spartacus to be a gladiator at a gladitorial school in capua. Spartacus was a slave gladiator who led a rebellion against mighty rome in 70 b. The book spartacus by howard fast is a book for the focused and patient. The first book in bestselling author howard fasts beloved family saga. Henry howard, earl of surrey spartacus educational. Howard fast s 1951 novel was the inspiration for the fantastic kirk douglas movie.
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