Details
Another glossy book on Pompeii, but this is definitely one of the better ones. It is well thought out and packed with a huge amount of information, accessible to the general reader without being in any way patronising. Its strengths definitely lie in its wide coverage - there is much more here than the standard, 'daily life of a Roman' material. There is a detailed scientific reconstruction of the eruption for example, and a fascinating history of archaeological work at Pompeii, one of the very first 'sites' in a modern sense. There is also a chapter on the ancient history of Pompeii itself - something that often gets missed, as if the town was as unchanging in antiquity as it has been since. Pompeii is also placed in its wider context within the Roman economy, and the very valid point is made that its importance now can blind us to its comparative insignificance in ancient times.