BOOKS fans are in for a treat as the latest offering from children's author John Malam is published in the nick of time for the Roman Middlewich Festival.
John's action-packed glimpse of Roman life, The Gladiator's Secret, will be given pride of place at the Winsford writer's bookstall at the festival on Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28.
The work marks a change from the usual school books John writes, which cover history topics on the curriculum.
This time former archaeologist John mixes fact with fiction.
He said: 'When the publishers asked me to write a book about a Roman gladiator I expected it was going to be a straightforward account - guts, gore and glory.
'But what they actually wanted was something quite different. It turned out the publishers wanted a book that explained the real-life adventure of archaeology with the world of Rome's fighting men.
'I created a character with the name Triumphus Naso, which means Triumphus Big Nose. Just like modern-day actors, gladiators used stage names, and this chap's alias was a tongue-in-cheek reference to his most distinguishing feature!'
The book tells the story of how archaeologists discover the gladiator's grave during a dig in London, and are able to work out the life-story of a Briton who became a hero of the Roman arena.
John said: 'If you've seen Time Team or any other TV archaeology programme, then you'll know how archaeologists work with specialists to piece together a story from whatever evidence they've uncovered - and that's what happens in the book.'
'I'm very pleased at how the book has turned out,' he added. 'It's filled with photos and illustrations, and they really help bring the text to life - you could say they put flesh on the bones of Triumphus!'
* The Gladiator's Secret is published by TickTock Media, £9.99 hardback, £4.99 paperback.
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