Pompeii

Rating:
Summary: Well researched, well written
Review: An enjoyable, well written and well researched book gives an interesting insight into Roman engineering, science, business customs and daily life. Set in Pompeii, starting two days prior to the erruption is a story of love woven on a sound historical and scientific base (interestingly enough Plinius features in the story). Easy to read and enjoyable, albeit short (large print and double spaces are used to extend the number of pages to a respectable minimum for a book), a recommended read.

Rating:
Summary: Makes me want to take a history class . . .
Review: This was my first book by Robert Harris, so I can't compare it to his previous work like some of the other reviewers. I was hooked from the first couple of pages. Yes, there's a lot of science and technical info in the book, but I didn't find it boring at all. Rather, it was integral to the story, like the quotes from the scientific books at the beginning of each chapter. Not boring at all, in fact, it made me want to go back to school to take a class on the history of the Roman Empire, or to travel to the ruins to see for myself. To me, when a book can make me so interested that I want to learn more, now that's a good book.

Rating:
Summary: Too Boring... I gave up!
Review: Being an Italian who loves the Roman empire, I was quite excited on Pompeii and I bought it on the very first day. Unfortunately the book is boring boring and boring. Honestly, I gave up reading after 200 pages.... Though I am not used at, why waste your time on an unlikely love affair set in a corrupted Roman town? Just read Italian newspapers to find more actual love affairs in an even more corrupted Italian economy....

Rating:
Summary: Pompeii is a captivating read
Review: from author Richard Harris. Harris has previously written three novels of historical fiction, set in WWII, and postwar. This time he's far more ambitious with his setting, returning to the Roman Empire of A.D. 79. Too few works about ancient Rome focus on the amazing engineering feats achieved by the empire; most focus on the battles, the slaves and gladiators, the cracks in the armor that eventually led to the fall of the Empire. Harris centers his work on the wonder of the Roman water system, dependent on a series of magnificent aqueducts that supported the needs of the people, and were truly a mark of engineering genius.

Harris' first novel, "Fatherland" always stands out for me in the amazing niche it filled - a novel of historical fiction that attempted to answer the question -- what would have happened if Hitler won the war? Although new novelist Harris was unable to bring his talents and imagination for setting and conflict to his characterization of the main characters, it was forgiveable in light of the stunning impact of his work. His following two historical novels, "Enigma" and "Archangel" were interesting, but mere shadows of his promise from "Fatherland".

Here, now, many years later, Harris brings us in with the tale too often ignored in our historical view -- the incredible eruption of the volcano Vesuvius that destroyed the Roman city of Pompeii. In his hero, Marcus Attilus Primus, an engineer newly assigned to the Aqua Augusta in the days before the eruption, Harris has created a character complex and equal to the tale and the impressive research he did and shares with us about the aqueduct, the times, and the eruption. It is a tale that draws you in and won't let you go. Flawed by lack of appropriate motive and characterization of the supporting roles, Pompeii is nevertheless a delicious read of historical nonfiction.

You'll enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Fast-paced and fun
Review: This book engaged me from start to finish. Though the love story was weak, I found the book very enjoyable. The last 50 pages will grip you!

Rating:
Summary: Should Have Been Better
Review: Harris does a wonderful job of putting the reader into the everyday life of the Roman world. There is none of the stilted dialogue of so many historical novels, and his settings are vividly clear. The problem is with the peripheral characters, particularly Corelia. Throughout the book you get no feel for who she is or why she and the main character, based on just two brief encounters, should be so attracted as to risk their lives (first she, then he) for each other. The suspense and narrative could have held the reader long enough for Harris to spend a bit of time developing his characters.

Rating:
Summary: A slipping from past high standards
Review: Pompeii does not quite live up to the standards of Robert Harris's previous work. Perhaps as a consequence of the story's era, Harris spends a lot more time in scene setting. Day to day routine needed little elaboration in Enigma, nor really in Fatherland, given that the settings of those stories were relatively close to contemporary life. Much of this historical scenery is interesting, and Harris's detailed research does come through with a commanding grasp of the facts. The price the reader pays is that it also clutters up some of the character development.

Where history and action combine (executing a slave by feeding him to the eels, for instance) the writing achieves and perhaps even exceeds the class and pace of some of Harris's earlier work. Parts of the text drag, however, as the need to explain context competes with the need for the story to move forwards. The corruption plot comes through a little clumsily at times, as well.

Overall this is by no means a bad book - for holiday reading it is great. It is just not quite the compelling page-turner Enigma was.

Rating:
Summary: If you go to Pompeii this is a must
Review: Having visited Pompei a couple of years ago and having had a rather truamatic experience there myself, ( My wife and daughter got seperated from me and it took me 4 hours to find them - Pompeii is big!)this book really fleshed out that experience. The last half of the book is particularly compelling to one who has visited because it has been accurately researched and the streets, locales in the book correspond to what you will experience there. Also many of the prominent characters correspond to names on election posters on the walls of the streets. After seeing the tortured looking stone figures of the victims of Vesuvius at Pompeiithe description of the eruption is particularly compelling. The insights into the administration of the aqueducts, the corruption etc. also is very interesting. The characters could have been more fully developed but in the end this does not deter from the engaging experience of reading the book. Bottom line: If you're going to visit Pompeii make it a point to read this book first and then bring it with you so you can visit the spots described not only in Pompeii but also in Herculaneum and Stabaie, Miseneum etc. and also the mountain itself.

Rating:
Summary: A great, thrilling tale...
Review: In this masterfully written book, the action takes place a few days before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Since everyone knows it's going to erupt since the beginning of the book but the characters in the story do not it adds a healthy dose of suspense throughout the book. All of the characters in the book could be considered simple at first look but I asssure you that they're very complicated and interesting to read about.
In short: Pompeii is a great book that is highly recommended to those who are considering reading it, and those who aren't...

Rating:
Summary: Historical Fiction
Review: True historical fiction is a rare genre. Historical fantasy is very common. But the ability to truly recreate a moment in time as it might have been is rare. In his previous book, Fatherland, Harris showed his ability to create historical fantasy. Now, he is warmed-up and wants to show that he can create historical fiction. And that is exactly what he does.

In Pompeii Harris recreates the days before the eruption of 79 AD that destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. He does this by telling the story of Marcus Attilius Primus, an engineer who takes over the Aqua Augusta, the aqueduct that brings water to the area around Vesuvius, when the previous engineer disappears. As he deals with maintaining the aqueduct and learning the politics of leadership, Attilius comes face to face with the earth's--and human's--warning that will lead to the eruption and what follows.

There are many things I like about this book. First, despite the fact that we know exactly what's going to happen big picture here (Vesuvius is going to erupt), Harris is able to keep us interested and excited. Second, we get a feeling that, although we know this is fiction, this is something that could have happened. It is not pure fantasy in an historical setting. Finally, Harris has the ability to create characters that we care about.

Admittedly, Harris has chosen a subject in which I am very interested. The eruption of Vesuvius has long fascinated me and a few years ago I traveled to Italy to tour the ruins of Pompeii. It was very fun for me to read this book and get a feeling for what that time was like. This novel hit no false notes with me. If anything, I wish Harris had been willing to carry the novel past the eruption farther into the aftermath. That said, I think anyone who enjoys historical fiction will find a lot to like here.