Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Fawcett (2004), 368 pages
Description
When the aqueduct that brings fresh water to thousands of people around the bay of Naples fails, Roman engineer Marius Primus heads to the slopes of Mount Vesuvius to investigate, only to come face to face with an impending catastrophe.
User reviews
LibraryThing member barpurple
I've read a few novels that deal with Pompeii's final days in 79AD, but this has got to be one of the best. Following the work of the aqueduct engineer, Attilius as he struggles to get the water flowing back into the towns around the Bay of Naples.
The warning signs of the impending eruption are all
The novel mentions a prophecy made by an oracle. I'm not sure if this is an historical fact, or an invention of the author. Either way it offers a wonderfully sad summing up of Pompeii. The foresight was that Pompeii would stand immortal in the memories of man, that generations hence would marvel at what was built there. As with any good prophecy it turned out to be totally accurate and totally misleading. It's true that generations have marvelled at the wonders of the city, but for all the detail recorded in the hardened ash, it's the eruption we remember not the people. The lives of the citizens are eclipsed by Vesuvius even in death.
Each chapter starts with an excerpt from an authoritative work on volcanoes. These educate and make the ignored warning signs all the more prominent.
The warning signs of the impending eruption are all
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there and even a novice Vulcanologist would be screaming at people to evacuate, I know I found myself wanting to yell a fruitless warning at several points. Of course no such warning came or could be heeded. That August life in the towns fed by the Aqua Augusta were more concerned with the lack of water and the festivities in celebration of Vulcan. It's easy to get caught up in the political posturing and intrigue that laces this story together. You find yourself wanting to know what will happen next in the lives of the characters. Then you remember, you know what's going to happen next, you know how the story ends and it doesn't end well for the town.The novel mentions a prophecy made by an oracle. I'm not sure if this is an historical fact, or an invention of the author. Either way it offers a wonderfully sad summing up of Pompeii. The foresight was that Pompeii would stand immortal in the memories of man, that generations hence would marvel at what was built there. As with any good prophecy it turned out to be totally accurate and totally misleading. It's true that generations have marvelled at the wonders of the city, but for all the detail recorded in the hardened ash, it's the eruption we remember not the people. The lives of the citizens are eclipsed by Vesuvius even in death.
Each chapter starts with an excerpt from an authoritative work on volcanoes. These educate and make the ignored warning signs all the more prominent.
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LibraryThing member jdino
I was really disappointed with this. I had expected an historical novel but instead got a cheap thriller. OK, Harris did give the relevant historical background but all for the purpose of just telling a good yarn. I put it in the category of a read for the beach during the summer sunshine.
LibraryThing member ireed110
Here is one of the many stories of Pompeii, this one told from the point of view of the Aquarian Attilius, whose first inkling that something is wrong is when the one wealthy citizen's fish are killed by the mysterious appearance of sulfur in the water.
Good things about this book: We get to meet
Other than that , it's not so good. It's completely predictable - and I don't mean that in the sense that we all know how it ends. There were no surprises here - the good guys and bad guys are all caricatures and behave in exactly the way we expect them to. I didn't care even a little bit who bought it in the end and who didn't -- I was just thankful that the volcano finally blew.
Good things about this book: We get to meet
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Plini. We learn something of the marvel of the aqueducts. We learn a bit about volcanoes. Other than that , it's not so good. It's completely predictable - and I don't mean that in the sense that we all know how it ends. There were no surprises here - the good guys and bad guys are all caricatures and behave in exactly the way we expect them to. I didn't care even a little bit who bought it in the end and who didn't -- I was just thankful that the volcano finally blew.
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LibraryThing member Castlelass
Historical fiction about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, covering a period of four days in 79 A.D. Attilius is an Aquarius, an engineer in charge of ensuring the water supply, of the Bay of Naples region. Attilius has been sent by Rome to replace the previous Aquarius, who has disappeared. The plot
The pace is somewhat slow in the beginning but picks up pace as it proceeds. The author introduces a number of characters, including Pliny the Elder, though they take secondary importance to the natural disaster. The narrative provides plenty of period details, showing the way of life of the residents and how much they stand to lose. Subplots relate to power, corruption, ambition, greed, romance, jealousy, and overindulgences.
Harris has created a compelling narrative, despite an ending that is already known. He maintains dramatic tension by showing the gradual build-up of pressure prior to the cataclysmic event that the reader knows is coming, but the characters do not. Both the storyline and epigraphs of each chapter are filled with history and science (volcanology, hydrology, geology). Recommended to those interested in a nature-driven survival story that educates while it entertains.
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revolves around the Aqua Augusta, which has been damaged by natural phenomena. The pace is somewhat slow in the beginning but picks up pace as it proceeds. The author introduces a number of characters, including Pliny the Elder, though they take secondary importance to the natural disaster. The narrative provides plenty of period details, showing the way of life of the residents and how much they stand to lose. Subplots relate to power, corruption, ambition, greed, romance, jealousy, and overindulgences.
Harris has created a compelling narrative, despite an ending that is already known. He maintains dramatic tension by showing the gradual build-up of pressure prior to the cataclysmic event that the reader knows is coming, but the characters do not. Both the storyline and epigraphs of each chapter are filled with history and science (volcanology, hydrology, geology). Recommended to those interested in a nature-driven survival story that educates while it entertains.
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LibraryThing member cbsi79
An entertaining read that does well at describing life in the ancient Roman cities in which it is set. However, the plot is predictable and the characters are archetypical. Nothing original here. Still, it is entertaining in the way a disaster movie would be. Good for summer reading which is why I
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gave it three stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member justine28
“Pompeii” is a historical thriller set in the Bay of Naples in 79 AD, with action taking place couple of days before the infamous Vesuvius eruption that destroyed the towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii. I found the book to be well written, full of interesting facts about life in Pompeii and Roman
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Empire almost 2 thousand years ago and a compelling account of what the eruption of Vesuvius must have been like to witness it. It certainly kept me interested. A very improbable happy-ending for the two main characters was a bit too much for me, though, therefore only 4 stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member blondestranger
Great historical facts and interesting story. Ending was a bit contrived.
LibraryThing member whiteknight50
This was an amazing treatment of a topic that had to be a challenge to write about. I was very impressed by the authors use of the Aqua Augusta aquaduct as a thread to unify the narrative. Some are distracted by the prominence of the aquaduct in this story, but without its stabilizing presence,
This was a novel that was a fast read and entertaining. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys history as a great read.
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this story could never have come together. As it was, the novel does a wonderful job of stretching our minds to understand what may have happened in those last days of Pompeii. It provides a glimpse into the hopeful ignorance of the people, their desparate attempts to believe that life would go back to normal. It provided a sense of the life and times of the residents, and brought a human face to the archeology and science of the event. This was a novel that was a fast read and entertaining. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys history as a great read.
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LibraryThing member isabelx
"Pompeii" is structured very much like a modern-day disaster movie. The hubris of the Romans who are so proud of their technological achievements, but who are powerless against the forces of nature; the hero who notices the warning signs, but too late; the nouveau riche tourists in their seaside
And yet again, proof that you can't trust those sneaky sibyls and their carefully worded prophecies. Pompeii's fame will last for thousands of years as she says, but not in a way that its citizens would wish!
The descriptions of how the aqueduct works and the job of the aquarius (chief water engineer) are very interesting. Everyone knows that the Romans used aqueducts to supply their cities, but I've never really thought about how they work in any detail. When you read this book you learn a lot about both Roman engineering and volcanoes.
Obviously everyone who reads this book realises immediately why the aqueduct is failing, but luckily Harris included another sub-plot to keep the reader in suspense: What happened to Exomnius the previous aquarius who has disappeared and what sort of devious doings have he, Corax the waterworks overseer and the rich former slave Ampliatus been up to in Pompeii?
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villas and the corrupt city officials oblivious to the impending disaster; the hero heading back into the heart of the disaster zone to rescue the heroine.And yet again, proof that you can't trust those sneaky sibyls and their carefully worded prophecies. Pompeii's fame will last for thousands of years as she says, but not in a way that its citizens would wish!
The descriptions of how the aqueduct works and the job of the aquarius (chief water engineer) are very interesting. Everyone knows that the Romans used aqueducts to supply their cities, but I've never really thought about how they work in any detail. When you read this book you learn a lot about both Roman engineering and volcanoes.
Obviously everyone who reads this book realises immediately why the aqueduct is failing, but luckily Harris included another sub-plot to keep the reader in suspense: What happened to Exomnius the previous aquarius who has disappeared and what sort of devious doings have he, Corax the waterworks overseer and the rich former slave Ampliatus been up to in Pompeii?
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LibraryThing member melydia
I'm not usually much for historical fiction, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It is the well-known story of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, but told from a slightly different perspective: the engineer of the aqueduct, dealing with a drought, a pipe blockage, and strange smells of sulfur in the
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water. In addition to the science (which I found fascinating - Roman technology was amazing), there is plenty of personal and political intrigue to keep the plot rolling along. This fun little book made me want to learn more about Pompeii and the Roman Empire, which says a lot, considering I'd never given them much thought outside the occasional History Channel documentary. Definitely recommended if you're in the mood for some good historical fiction. Show Less
LibraryThing member mrtall
Robert Harris's Pompeii is an excellent historical novel.
Focused tightly on a singular event, and just three days' worth of narration, it's not too long, as many historical novels tend to be. There's of course a character-driven plot running through the volcanic pyrotechnics, and happily it's a
Recommended.
Focused tightly on a singular event, and just three days' worth of narration, it's not too long, as many historical novels tend to be. There's of course a character-driven plot running through the volcanic pyrotechnics, and happily it's a
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pretty good one: an engineer in charge of the aqueduct system in the region surrounding Mt Vesuvius is our hero, and Pompeii's leading citizen, a noveau riche former slave, his foil. Neither character is terribly memorable, but they'll do. The book's show-stopper is Harris's depiction of Pliny, the military commander-cum-natural-scholar, who comes to life in memorable fashion. Recommended.
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LibraryThing member mikedraper
In 79 AD a new Aquarius is appointed to the area around Pompeii.
Unexplained water loss occurs in the cities around Pompeii and Marcus Attilius Primus, an engineer, feels that his position as Aqaruis is important and his work should be done unscrupuously.
As the story begins, a wealthy resident
In an attempt to save this innocent man, Ampliatus's daughter, Corelia, goes to Attilius who arrives and demonstrates that the fish died due to sulphur in the water.
Attilius begins to investigate the possilbe fault in the aquaduct while certain officials try to stop him because they fear that Attilius will learn of the manipulation they have done to the water for their own financial gain.
There is excellent drama as action begins two days before the volcano erupts. We follow Attilius as he investigates the problem and attempts to provide a solution as his life becomes more and more in danger.
This is a highly entertaining story and shows the author's detailed research into the times and life in the city of Pompeii.
Unexplained water loss occurs in the cities around Pompeii and Marcus Attilius Primus, an engineer, feels that his position as Aqaruis is important and his work should be done unscrupuously.
As the story begins, a wealthy resident
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Ampliatus, a former slave, is putting one of his slaves to death. They young man was in charge of his master's prized fish stock and they all died.In an attempt to save this innocent man, Ampliatus's daughter, Corelia, goes to Attilius who arrives and demonstrates that the fish died due to sulphur in the water.
Attilius begins to investigate the possilbe fault in the aquaduct while certain officials try to stop him because they fear that Attilius will learn of the manipulation they have done to the water for their own financial gain.
There is excellent drama as action begins two days before the volcano erupts. We follow Attilius as he investigates the problem and attempts to provide a solution as his life becomes more and more in danger.
This is a highly entertaining story and shows the author's detailed research into the times and life in the city of Pompeii.
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LibraryThing member Bookmarque
I thought that I would devour this book, but it actually took me some weeks to finish. I guess because the characters seemed so thin and I knew that most of them were doomed anyway, I just didn’t care too much. The underlying stories of corruption, greed and romance just seemed pale in comparison
Also, some of the language and dialogue seemed forced. There were modern day expletives (fuck!) and insults and turns of phrase that seemed out of place. I know that the Romans used similar terms and I think the novel would have held onto some of the time and place the author was trying to create had he used these terms instead of their modern equivalents. Same with some of the crude sexual interludes that were sprinkled here and there. They did nothing to move the story along and I suppose were thrown in to impress upon the reader just how rotten the bad guys were.
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to what was going on under the earth. The catastrophe that would soon engulf them would bring swift end to everything – petty and righteous equally.Also, some of the language and dialogue seemed forced. There were modern day expletives (fuck!) and insults and turns of phrase that seemed out of place. I know that the Romans used similar terms and I think the novel would have held onto some of the time and place the author was trying to create had he used these terms instead of their modern equivalents. Same with some of the crude sexual interludes that were sprinkled here and there. They did nothing to move the story along and I suppose were thrown in to impress upon the reader just how rotten the bad guys were.
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LibraryThing member ros.peters
I read this book twice and enjoyed it even more the second time. Although historically correct it read like a page-turner and I like the way the author achieved this. It is a fascinating story by itself and I have to admire the intelligence and sophistication of the Ancient Romans. I have had the
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opportunity to visit Pompeii and found it a fascinating place and this book certainly helps demystify the event which froze Pompeii in time. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyn
I can't think that many novels written based on the Roman era and it was interesting to read as presumably research was done to ensure that the way of life was accurate. I enjoyed the plot up until the eruption but felt it lacked a little imagination thereafter.
LibraryThing member tcarter
I don't know enough about the actual history to comment on the historical accuracy of the description of the eruption, but it felt pretty credible. Strong characterisation does engender concern for what happens to the people caught up in the disaster. The plotting, however, is a bit tortuous and in
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places unbelievable. In the end I wasn't sure if this was the story of the people, who happened to have the eruption in the background; or the story of the eruption, which happened to have the people in the foreground. Show Less
LibraryThing member dougwood57
'Pompeii' is a highly readable historical mystery set in Roman Pompeii in 79 C.E. just before the 'you know what' happens. Robert Harris has an eye for historical detail and can spin a good yarn. The reader of Pompeii learns a bit about Roman aqueducts, the Roman empire and, of course, volcanoes.
The protagonist, Marcus Attilius Primus, is the new 'aquarius' sent out from Rome to take over the care and maintenance of the Aqua Augusta, the immense aqueduct that served the Bay of Naples area. Figure out just what did happen to the former aquarius, why the water has dried up, and how did a former slave become the (apparently) richest, most powerful man in Pompeii. Meet Pliny the Elder along the way.
A fun read. Highly recommended for lovers of water, volcanoes, and the Roman Empire.
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The protagonist, Marcus Attilius Primus, is the new 'aquarius' sent out from Rome to take over the care and maintenance of the Aqua Augusta, the immense aqueduct that served the Bay of Naples area. Figure out just what did happen to the former aquarius, why the water has dried up, and how did a former slave become the (apparently) richest, most powerful man in Pompeii. Meet Pliny the Elder along the way.
A fun read. Highly recommended for lovers of water, volcanoes, and the Roman Empire.
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LibraryThing member Antar
Superb thriller, looking forward to the Roman Polanski film!
LibraryThing member herschelian
Having visited Pompeii and Herculaneum a couple of times, I enjoyed this book as it imagines what happened and how people behaved. The final chapter was rather implausible and the ending very disappointing.
LibraryThing member Eruntane
This book is brilliant! Robert Harris is a real master at creating an atmospheric setting, and as you read this you can really feel the heat, and the stench, and the tension in the air as his characters play off against each other with the ominously brooding Mount Vesuvius in the background.
LibraryThing member lunarcheck
Everyone in western civilization knows how the book is going to end but anyway it's a great story. The novel is too contrived to be called brilliant, the occasional sudden change of point of view is a little jarring and one scene is quite shocking. But overall this is very professional,
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well-researched and enjoyable historical fiction. Using the idea of water supply and the matrix of aqueducts as the framework for the story worked really well too. Show Less
LibraryThing member davidroche
For those that like history but can't stomach non-fiction, this is one of several books here that I have flagged
LibraryThing member tandu
Another fine yarn, about the Aquarius of the aqueduct around Pompeii. Has it all: Forbidden love, political intrigue, volcanoes.
LibraryThing member cassielouwho
This book was a lot of fun to read, as we just recently went to Pompeii!
LibraryThing member jaygheiser
Mildly diverting historical novel about the events leading up to the eruption of Vesuvias
Subjects
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2003-11
Physical description
368 p.; 4.17 inches
ISBN
0345475674 / 9780345475671