Pompeii: A Novel by Robert Harris Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Pompeii: A Novel
Book Review: A flavour of Roman life, marred by a silly Hollywood ending
Summary: 4 Stars
Fans of National Geographic (if they are old enough) will remember the haunting images of the excavations of Pompeii and Hurculaneum. When Robert Harris writes the following as the first section heading, "Mars, 22 August, 2 days before the eruption," you know that the book is going to cover the details of the eruption. You also know, because this is Robert Harris, that there is going to be a suspense story going that incorporates the disaster, just as his "Fatherland" incorporates the Holocaust in a chilling way.
The story: the Aqueduct at Misenum, the Roman naval base on the Bay of Neapolis, has run dry overnight. The mystery: Pompeii, further up the coast on the same bay, still has water, so there must be a break where the line passes by Mt. Vesuvius. The complication: the new Aquarius, responsible for the aqueduct, has only been on the job a few days. The suspense: the old Aquarius has dissappeared, and everyone in town seems very frightened when his name is brought up. The story follows the new Aquarius as he tries to determine the cause of the water shortage, and to fix it, and to navigate the politics of provincial Rome.
On the balance, we learn more about volcanoes in this book than we do about Romans. That's okay, though - Harris is the master of telling a story, and placing it in a historical setting (either real, as in this case, or an alternate history like Fatherland). The story moves at a rapid pace as we march inexorably towards the disaster.
The only problem with the book, which robs it of its fifth star, is the last 50 pages or so. It is difficult to discuss the ending without giving away key plot points, but with a disaster of this magnitude, you'd think there'd be more deaths among the major characters. Similarly, I seem to recall from the National Geographic articles that most of those people buried alive by the lava were already dead - victims of the noxious gases that accompany any big eruption. Perhaps Harris decided that people dropping dead from H2S poisoning was not dramatic enough, but it does rob the book of some authenticity at the end.
Book Review: A fun read
Summary: 4 Stars
I enjoyed this book greatly. It's fast paced, fun reading. Fascinating subject matter, which is handled adroitly by the author. The book conveyed a sense of society at the time as well as conveying how the impending disaster was probably treated by the area residents. An enjoyable read.Book Review: A look at life in Imperial Rome
Summary: 4 Stars
I recommend this book. For me it's strengths aren't in the mystery/thriller aspects. I don't care that much about Marcus Attilus Primus' search for answers to the disappearance of his colleague, but I never was a mystery person. And the love story doesn't do that much for me either. On both these things it's clear that Harris is getting out some of hooks to bring in a commercial audience. Which is okay.
But what I like is that this serves as a vehicle to look at life in Imperial Rome. The daily job of the aquarius is fascinating, and the whole sun drenched atmosphere of the place really pulled me in. And definitely the best sections are when Vesuvius is actually erupting. It's such a visual, viceral, incredibly imagined rendering of one of humanities great natural disasters. The way the pumice stone fills up the bay... The cloud of ash spewing into the heavens... The heat and turmoil of it all... It's very vivid, and dramatic in a way that's a notch above any possible film version. Read it for this stuff, cause it's worth it.
Book Review: Almost As Good in Foreplay as In the Climax
Summary: 4 Stars
Robert Harris' Pompeii delivers even before Vesuvius lets loose. The story of the Aquarius Attilius has a double does of forboding, one of which the character is aware (that something suspicious is going on with a missing Aquarius and questions about the water supply, a nice Chinatown the movie touch lending a degree of noir charm to the book) and one of which the reader is very clearing aware and the author makes clear at the beginning of each chapter (the imminent explosion of the volcano). When said event does happen, all hell breaks loose and all stray bits of plot come together very nicely. Pliny makes an inevitable, yet very effective, appearance. If there ever is to be a noir-historical-disaster novel genre, let this book set its standard.Book Review: Another Good Read From Robert Harris
Summary: 4 Stars
Though I actually preferred his earlier novels this was still quite good. His research into the Last Days of Pompeii and the workings of volcanic eruptions was quite extensive. His key characters were nicely developed. The book kept my attention.