THOSE ABOUT TO DIE, by Daniel P Mannix book review. Hail Caesar, those of us about to die salute you

This is a book review of the title Those About to Die, by Daniel P. Mannix, the story of the Roman Games.  This book was used as a reference guide for the film Gladiator starring Russell Crow and directed by Ridley Scott.

This is a fantastic book, very well written.  Here is the marketing on the book cover;

The full truth about the sadistic Roman 'games.'
Two armies of five thousand men fought to the death.
The show was lit at night by human torches.
"Hail Caesar, we who are about to die salute you!"
Born of a corrupt and licentious age, the Roman Games were the cruelest, costliest, spectacles of all time, providing the emotional outlet for the discontented mob.
The emperor Marcus spent nearly a million pounds a year on gladiators.
Fans threw themselves on the funeral pyres of favourite charioteers.
In one day, 1000 stags, 1000 ostriches, 1000 boars, 100 lions and 300 bears were slaughtered in the area.

Definitely a book to have in your library.