Masada [Hardcover]

Masada itself is the name of a fortress built in Northern Israel by king Herod and it was old before the time of Jesus (It was built sometime between 37 to 4 B.C.E.). When the Romans came to Israel, the Jews had mixed opinions about how to deal with the Roman Empire. Thought was split between quite a few groups. The basic differences were between people who welcomed the Roman Empire because of the prosperity it could possibly bring and those who condemned the Roman Empire for its' cultural depravity (Orgies, gladiatorial combat, sacrifice, etc.). Eventually the Romans made the decision easy by imposing crippling taxes on the people and religious oppression. This was the straw that broke the camels back and all the Jews no matter their political differences united. Unfortunately, their unification happened too late. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem and razed the Great Temple from the Bible. The survivors fled north to a fortress known as... Masada.

"Masada" the book by Ernest Gann, originally known by the title "The Antagonists," tells the story of this small group of 960 Jews who defied the Roman Empire by refusing to give in to Roman demands. It tells the story of Elazer Ben Yair, leader of the Jews, and Flavius Silva, general of Rome's elite Tenth Legion. It tells the story of how Elazer and his small group decided to commit suicide when it became apparent the Roman army would soon breach the walls of Masada. This mass suicide rocked the ancient world, and many peoples oppressed by the Roman Empire took heart in the symbol of a small people who never gave in. The alternative to giving in facing the fortress's defenders was hardly more attractive than death. Once the Romans defeated them, the men could expect to be sold off as slaves or crucified, and the women would be condemned to slavery and prostitution.

Much of the basis of the story is historical thanks to the saved accounts of a Jew turned traitor to Masada's defenders: Flavius Josephus. Josephus as he is better known wrote a history book known as "The Jewish War" that the Roman Emperor Vespasian had commissioned. As the adage goes, "victors write the history books," and Vespasian commissioned Flavius to write a history book that extolled his accomplishments as Roman Emperor including the conquering of Masada. For the Romans, commissioning a person who had actually witnessed the history he was extolling was highly unusual. Most Roman history books were written by men who lived hundreds of years after the events being retold. "The Jewish Wars" tells the tale of the siege of Masada from the Roman's vantage, but includes details that, to this day, have been useful to archeologists exploring Masada's ruins. Ernest Gann used "The Jewish Wars" in addition to other references to write his historical fiction novel of the siege of Masada.

I recommend reading Yigal Yadin's (one of the archeologists who has explored Masada) book "Masada," Flavius Josephus' "The Jewish Wars," as well as trying to rent the 1981 ABC television series "Masada," which starred Peter O'Toole. The screenplay of the 1981 ABC television series was made using "Masada" the novel by Ernest Gann. The television series was very well done and I enjoyed it very much.

I highly recommend the novel "Masada" or "The Antagonists" as it is also known. It is a wonderful novel of fascinating historical fiction.

Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan