The Lost World of Pompeii

by Colin Amery, Brian Curran Jr.

Since Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79, the story of the lost city of Pompeii continues to intrigue the public. Discoveries at Pompeii and the nearby village of Herculaneum include elegant villas, whole rooms intact adorned with classical motifs and exquisite frescoes-as vivid as the day they
were painted-as well as skillfully laid-out gardens. Excavations began in 1748 but halted from 1954-94. Today, new funding mean that parts of the site are being opened and recorded for the first time.

This book provides more than 150 new photographs by Chris Caldicott, Royal Geographic Society photographer-in-residence. Its covers such topics as the history of the city, the discovery of the remains, the town plan, the private life of Pompeii, Pompeii's design legacy, and the site today.
Published in association with the World Monuments Fund, this lavish book offers readers a fresh and comprehensive exploration of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Genres: History, Roman History, Archaeology, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published November 14, 2002

Reviews

[Linda Harkins]

In my opinion, the best part of this book is the section on fresco styles. Now, I know what First Style looks like and that I can fnd it in House of the Faun. Second Style is best represented in Villa of the Mysteries. Third Style decoration can be seen in the House of Marcus Lucretius Fronto. Fourth Style, the most fantastic, flamboyant, and decorative of the four and the style popularized by Nero's Domus Aureus, can be seen in the triclinium of the House of the Vetti.

[Kristen Freiburger]

Very well done!

[Rosalie]

This has to be one of the best books about Pompeii that I have read. The authors walk us through Pompeii and give us a clear picture of what Pompeii was like before Vesuvius erupted as well as the ongoing revelations that the excavations have provided us. The authors are descriptive, informative and clear in their narrative. The first chapter sets the scene giving us a history of Pompeii and details of the eruption cycle of Vesuvius, and you can feel the eruption: the heat; the smell and the absolute horror of the pyroclastic flows. You can clearly imagine the terror of the residents. The book then gives details about the excavation process and how there was such needless destruction of valuable frescoes, murals and engravings by Roque Joachim de Alcubierre, a Spanish colonel of the engineering corps, who was in charge of the excavations. It is unbelievable to our 21stC minds that such a person, with no historical or archaeological qualifications and experience was put in charge of such an important excavation.
The book takes us through: the lifestyle and daily lives of Pompeiians; the different house styles; and the influence that Pompeii has had on our cultural experiences. The last 2 chapters didn’t add much to the overall story of Pompeii but just highlights the way that we have been and continue to be fascinated by the story of Pompeii. One thing that i did really appreciate with this book is the photographs and how they were used throughout the book. This was done in 2 ways, firstly the photos were interspersed with the text, rather than having pages of photos in the middle of the book. This made it much easier to clearly understand the different house styles for example. Secondly, the size of the book, meant that bigger photos could be used and spread over 2 pages. This showed just how big Pompeii was and how large structures like the Amphitheatre and the Forum were, which highlighted its importance in both the Roman Empire and the general location. A truly impressive book on a compelling subject.

[Annalise Hite]

Perfect beautiful love

[Jeff Lanter]

This is a hard book to review because the focus of the book is so wide to the point of feeling a bit too scattered. It covers the excavation of Pompeii through history very well. It also does a nice job of discussing some basic aspects of Roman life and what the frescos and murals reveal. The last chapter or so of the book is about famous British artists inspired by Pompeii. I have never heard of any of these artists and did not find the chapter engaging at all. The pictures are excellent and show many beautiful aspects of Pompeii. If you're really interested in learning more or are thinking of visiting, then chances are good you will enjoy this book. I got it cheaply and feel like I got my money's worth out of it, but I think the price made a big impact on my overall opinion too.

[Rich]

Well written with lots of background information. My only issue was I found myself becoming fairly confused at points - possibly just personal opinion. Interesting and informative. Not sure if I would read again.