»Spartacus«, historical novel vs. TV-Serie of US-Pay-TV-Channel »Starz«

Overview about similarities and equalities
of the the TV-Series:
»Spartacus Blood & Sand«,
made by US-Pay-TV-Channel »Starz«,
and the historical novel: »Spartacus«

by Adrian Franklin

Against the background that
the 1st edition was ended and edited in 2006.
Four years before the TV-Series was published.

When reading, one of the similarities, is (probably) immediately perceived,
because the novel begins with a roman campaign, in Thrace (as well as the series).
   Therefore, here, once again, the note that the 1st edition was published in 2006 already.
   Despite the similarities, the novel and the series are very different. The series was designed as blood and soft porn. The really good actors could cover this up now and then.
   What the novel wants to be, for this a link to the Inspirations.

Historical Subtleties

Particularly severe,

are the historical subtleties, besides ideas for the plot progression, ideas to intersperse historical background, with just some short dialogues, to illuminate the time, and thus avoid explaining page after page.

»Spartacus«, blood and softporn

A random find was

a law, according to which all slaves of a house are to be killed if a slave tries to kill the master of the house. This law actually existed, but this was a random find. A Find, that probably only happened, because of years of research. That producers of a TV series, which is mainly a blood and soft porn, excessively comb through history and stories of this era... not very likely. (It is not enough to look up Plutarch and Appian, or other events that are roughly in the time frame of the uprising.)

Plot-Progression, Similarities and Equalities

gladiator school of Lentulus Batiatus:

In the gladiator school of Lentulus Batiatus, the newcomers are urged to prove themselves, otherwise they will be subjected to be sold into the mines (so in the TV series, ditto in the novel). The scene is almost identical. The newcomers line up in the arena of the school. Batiatus speaks down to them, from the balcony/terrace of his house. The threat of sale to the mines, is more detailed in the novel, but of the same intention (to urge these war prisoners, who have nothing more to lose, to not to refuse the training)..

from the 1st & 2nd season

The listing of the following similarities concern the 1st and 2nd season. The chronology also matches.

TV-Serie: begins with a campaign of the romans against Mithridates. Thracians are accepted as auxiliary troops (name of the commander is Glaber). Spartacus deserts and flees with his wife. However, they are pursued by the romans, found (only them, in front of their dwelling / tent) and end up in slavery, but separated. The loss of his wife, is later a motivation of the ›Thracian‹.
Novel begins with a campaign in Thrace (name of the commander Glabrus). Spartacus retreats from the battlefield. However, is pursued by the Romans and found, together with his wife „...in front of one of the tents.“, and thus falls into slavery, he alone. The loss of his wife, is later, named/assumed, as a motivation of the ›Thracian‹.
TV-Serie: caming soon
Im Roman caming soon

Overview about similarities and equalities of the the TV-Series: »Spartacus Blood & Sand«, made by US-Pay-TV-Channel »Starz«, and the historical novel: »Spartacus«

by Adrian Franklin

Overview about similarities and equalities
of the the TV-Series:
»Spartacus Blood & Sand«,
made by US-Pay-TV-Channel »Starz«,
and the historical novel: »Spartacus«