The Man Who Wrote Spartacus in Prison

I always enjoy slipping down the rabbit hole of research. For my novels the research takes me to the brash, brawling streets of 16th century London, the palaces of Elizabeth I, and the ships of the Thornleigh family whose adventures I chronicle.

But today the rabbit hole led me to a stunning new destination right here in our own time. And a shocking injustice.

There were eight eye-opening stops along the way.

1. I read Robert Harris's new novel An Officer and a Spy and was knocked out by it. Best book I read in 2013. Which made me want to read his novel Pompeii . . .

2. I read Pompeii, loved it, but realized I was an ignoramus about its setting: ancient Rome. Julius Caesar, Augustus, Pompey - I had only a hazy timeline. Which made me want to find out more . . .

3. I read some books about the Roman Empire, so fascinating I'm still reading. This morning I woke up wondering about Spartacus. I remembered the thrilling 1960 movie starring Kirk Douglas. When, I wondered, did this gladiator raise his brave but doomed slave revolt against the might of Rome? Like any rational person, my first act was to Google "Spartacus" . . .

4. I learned that Spartacus's historic slave revolt against tyranny happened in 71 BC. Then I learned that the movie was inspired by the novel "Spartacus" by Howard Fast published in 1951. This was the McCarthy era, infamous for its "witch hunts" for Communists. Fast wanted Spartacus to stand as an eternal symbol of how people must fight political systems of oppression. Now, here's where things become eye-popping. He wrote the book in prison . . .

5. What was Howard Fast's crime? He had refused to disclose to Congress the names of contributors to a fund for a home for orphans of American veterans of the Spanish Civil War. He was imprisoned for three months in 1950 for contempt of Congress. Wait, there's more . . .

6. Although Fast already had an established career as the author of over a dozen popular novels, he was blacklisted by major publishing houses following his release from prison. No one would publish "Spartacus." So. . .

7. He published the novel himself. And he included on the final page his difficulties in publishing it:

"No commercial publisher, due to the political temper of the times, would undertake the publication or distribution of the book. Its publication was made possible by hundreds of people who believed in the book and bought it in advance of publication, so that the money would be forthcoming to pay for its printing. The author wishes to thank these people with all his heart. . . He hopes that for some future edition, at a time when it would not subject them to danger and reprisal, to be able to name these people and extend personal thanks to each in turn."

8. Howard Fast's novel "Spartacus" was a success, going through seven printings in the first four months of publication - about 50,000 copies. And the 1960 film of it heralded the end of the blacklist.

Wow. I'm amazed and humbled.

Bless all rabbit holes.

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