Penguin A Day in the Life of a Gladiator: An Alternative History of Ancient Rome | Paperback | English

Immerse yourself in the brutal reality of Roman spectacle with Harry Sidebottom’s A Day in the Life of a Gladiator. This gripping, immersive history moves beyond the marble halls of emperors to illuminate the life and death experienced on the blood-darkened sand of the arena, grounded firmly in ancient sources.

Follow the gladiator’s journey, from the feast on the eve of the games to the dawn rush at the Colosseum, witnessing the wild-beast hunts, public executions, and carefully choreographed violence that defined Roman entertainment. Bestselling author Harry Sidebottom brings this visceral history to life, detailing the fight for survival and the quest for the crowd's favour.

Key Highlights for History Enthusiasts

• Illuminates the reality of Roman life and death through the lens of the gladiator.
• Authored by bestselling historian Harry Sidebottom.
• Focuses on the events of a single, decisive day in the life of a combatant.
• Previously published in hardback as Those Who Are About to Die.

Specifications

This is the 1st Edition paperback version of the work, written entirely in English.

• Author: Harry Sidebottom
• Publisher: Penguin
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Print Length: 416 pages
• Publication Date: June 11, 2026
• ISBN-13: 978-1804948521
• Dimensions: 12.8 x 2.8 x 19.7 cm
• Weight: 300 g

Discover history as it truly happened on the arena floor with this essential reference for the history of sports and ancient Rome.