Spartacus.

FAST, Howard .

$1,200.00

Item Number: 149899

New York: Published by the Author, 1951.

First edition of this work, basis for the classic 1960 film starring Kirk Douglas. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author bound-in, “For Jerry Mayro Gratefully Howard Fast.” Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition.

Spartacus is a historical novel about the slave revolt led by Spartacus around 71 BCE. The book inspired the 1960 film directed by Stanley Kubrick. The screenplay was written by Dalton Trumbo and starred Kirk Douglas as Spartacus, Laurence Olivier as the Roman general and politician Marcus Licinius Crassus, Peter Ustinov, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, as slave trader Lentulus Batiatus, John Gavin as Julius Caesar, Jean Simmons as Varinia, Charles Laughton as Sempronius Gracchus and Tony Curtis as Antoninus. The film won four Academy Awards in all.