'Mr Benn, Gladiator' by David McKee

Seeing some workmen busy repairing his road, Mr Benn is reminded of the Romans, who built very good roads. He heads for the costume shop and tries on a Roman Gladiator’s outfit; stepping through the changing room door, Mr Benn arrives in ancient times, by a road under construction. One of the workers is Mr Benn’s old friend, Smasher Lagru**, who explains that they are building the road to lead to the Emperor’s Arena. Just then the Emperor himself arrives, and, having approved of the workers’ handiwork, he invites Smasher and Mr Benn to accompany him on a visit to watch the Gladiators fight each other – and the lions – in the Arena. Mr Benn sees this as an opportunity save the lives of the combatants, and to show the Emperor that fighting is silly…

Illustrated by David McKee

Published:
2001

Publisher:
Andersen Press

Notes:
*Featuring Mr Benn, the Shopkeeper and Smasher Lagru

**The fact that Mr Benn meets Smasher Lagru, whom he last met in contemporary times, can only mean one of two things: 1 – that Smasher is a time-traveller, or 2 – that Mr Benn’s adventures are not actually real, but are merely dreams or hallucinations. It makes you wonder what else the shopkeeper slips Mr Benn when he pays a visit to the costume shop…