The Antagonists

by Ernest K. Gann

Book Overview

Jan. 1972 Signet mass market paperback. Ernest K. Gann (Fate Is the Hunter: A Pilot's Memoir). This is a great book well written and well researched even if it's just fiction. The history of two great... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671206680
• ISBN13: 9780671206680
• Release Date: January 1971
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 287 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Masada Shall Not Fall Again!

The last stand of the Jewish patriotic freedom fighters at Masada occupies a special place in the hearts of the people of Israel. It was here that 960 Jewish refugees from the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, set up a fortress and for three years fought off the might of Imperial Rome. Every year the swearing-in ceremony of soldiers who have completed their Tironut (IDF basic training) takes place on top of Masada. The ceremony ends with the declaration: "Masada shall not fall again." The soldiers climb the Snake Path at night and are sworn in with torches lighting the background This is a reference to the Jewish revolt in 70 CE, where the Jewish fighters and their families committed suicide, leading to the fall of the fort to the Romans. A compelling and fast read, most of the book focuses on three figures, the Roman general Flavius Silva, procurator of Roman occupied-Judea, his beautiful Jewish concubine, Sheva and the leader of the Israeli freedom fighters Eliezer Ben Yair. While less was written of the Jewish resistance than I would have liked, and much on the Roman politics and interrelationships, Gann has always never departed far from the documented facts. when Masada could not longer be held by the Jews, the defenders decided to kill themselves together with their families rather than face the cruelties which would be inflicted on them by their Roiman conquerors. For the three years of trouble that the Jews gave in resisting Rome, Eliezer knew that the Romans would capture as many men as possible so the father could be tortured to death in front of the son, the children of those Jews who had defied Roman hegemony would be raised on spears so that the seed of those stubborn Jews who held so fiercely onto their land would not be allowed to ever flourish again. The Jewish women would be raped until their bodies were torn apart. And well the Jews know that if they ever submit to Arab hegemony which they have defied for sixty years and more, these horrors will be visited on the entire Jewish population of Israel It is this final act of defiance that will bring tears to your eyes. This is ultimately a book about the resilience of the Jewish people on their ancient soil of the Land of Israel.

FROM BACK COVER

They Were All Captives of Masada... Masada... The Great Rock. The high fortress in a hard place of torching sun - where the rebel Jews take their last stand against Caesars' glittering legions... ELEAZAR - the proud young zealot who led his people through the wilderness to Masada - and a mad promise of freedom - if only to die... SILVA - The Roman General. Polished, sensual, commanding - it was his destiny to take Masada and to meet Eleazar, his blood enemy, on the hill... SHEVA - The exotic Jewess, enslaved by General Silva's passion. To love him, she must betray her own ancient heritage... MASADA

Superbly written

This superbly written novel based on the siege of Masada is a novel of relationships. Relationships between friends. Relationships between enemies. Relationships of love. Flavius Silva is highly understandable and likeable. Sheva though two dimensional is understandable in her conflicts. Fine drama. Extremely well written. A joy to read.

Timeless Tale of Tragic Defiance

There?s an old adage that ?victors write the history books.? "The Antagonists" is a tale that confirms that old adage. Everyone has heard of the mighty Roman Empire that nearly conquered the world and imposed its? rule wherever it went. What many people don?t know that historians do is that Romans went to the Holy Land (Israel) and brutally subjugated its? people, the Jews. They destroyed Jerusalem, massacred entire villages of thousands as symbols of Roman power, and lined the roads of Israel with crucifixes on which corpses were cruelly hung. In the midst of this Roman killing, some people would not give up no matter the cost and "The Antagonists" is their story, the story of a small group who escaped to a fortress known as Masada.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. "The Antagonists," the book by Ernest Gann, is also known by the title ?Masada,? 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

Masada

When I found "Masada" in an used-books store, I'd never heard of Ernest Gann. Being a fan of historical fiction, and because the main subject of the book interested me, I bought it. When I got home, I browsed the net and found out Ernest Gann had been a very prolific writer and adventurer until his death in 1991. Apart from being a writer, he had been an aviator, a sailsman and an artist, and had accomplished many things in his life. Most of his books deal with aviation and non-fiction, and many of them have been transformed into movies, like "Soldier of fortune" and "Fate is the hunter". "Masada" is one of Gann's fiction books. In Judea, 70DC, the only piece of land the romans have not conquered is the table-like rock-formation called Masada. In it, for the past three years a group of a thousand-odd rebellious jews have refused to become roman slaves and defy the mighty army of Emperor Vespasianus.Based on true events, the book narrates the last few days of the rebellion, when the roman army only awaits the last moments of building a huge, incredible ramp that will lead them to the gates of the jewish stronghold. "Masada" concentrates on three main characters: Silva, the roman general in charge of the local army, Eleazar, the jewish rebellious leader, and Sheba, the jewess who is Silva's lover. Silva, an ugly, limping man, has been in the desert for three years and his only thoughts concern placating Emperor Vespasian's urgent requests that he delivers Roman Judea from the shame of having a piece of unconquered land. He has to deal with whispered commentaries within his own army concerning his competence, his love for the wine and, worst of all, his love for an outcast woman. Eleazar is the strong jew leader, thorn between despair of having not much else to do to hold the romans back and the shame of not being able to know certainly what to do. And Sheba is the jewess divided between the struggle of her own people and her love for the hated roman general Silva. Gann's book is not long (315 pages), and the chapters are fast-paced, even if Gann always and at lenght displays what his characters are thinking. Silva, Eleazar and Sheba are very well developed and credible as characters. The outcome of the book is great. "Masada" was a good surprise for me and should be for all those who like good historical fiction. Grade 8.6/10