Pompeii: A Novel by Robert Harris Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Pompeii: A Novel
Book Review: Another great Harris book
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book because I liked Robert Harris's other books, especially Enigma and Archangel and I was not disappointed. I read it in 4 nights - did not want to put it town. It is great historical fiction - just enough history plus just enough fiction.Book Review: Decadent Roman Empire
Summary: 5 Stars
I have a slight bias in reviewing this novel because of my hydraulic engineering background. The hero is a young Roman engineer, Marcus Attilius Primus, who has just been appointed aquarius in charge of the Aqua Agusta, the aquaduct serving the population around the Bay of Neapolis (the Bay of Naples).
The novel is set during the height of imperial Rome, and the action takes place over a period of a few days, just before and during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Attilius has taken a working party out to repair a break in the aquaduct, the main fresh water supply for about 200,000 people. In the process he has stumbled into a nest of corruption involving the use of water and the evasion of water bills. Attilius has the flaw of being honest, and is considered a danger to people profiting from bribes.
Events are compounded by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (the last days of Pompeii). The hero, Attilius, must rescue a young woman (of course) and fight various evil people in the process (of course).
The novel is well researched and well written, and presents information for a general audience on both the Roman aquaduct system, and the eruption of a volcano. It is also a good adventure novel and would make a great motion picture.
The novel does give a few insights into imperial decadence and the Roman class system. A slave is fed to eels, young girls (and some young boys) are held enslaved in prostitution, daughters are bartered away like commodities, corrupt politicians trade favors for votes, etc.
Book Review: Does for Pompeii what James Cameron's Titanic did for the story of the ocean liner
Summary: 5 Stars
There is a genre of books that adopts one tiny idea, some very narrow topic, and makes it entirely its own. Pompeii does this for the subject of waterworks in the Roman Empire. From this unpromising subject grows one of the most fascinating books about Rome that I have ever read. The masterstroke is to combine a wealth of minutia and esoteric detail about waterworks with the broad canvas of Pompeii just before and during the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79 AD. The result is a moving story of love, courage and extraordinary dedication to duty against the magnificent backdrop of the eruption, populated by historical characters like the Plinys (Younger and Elder) among others. The best parallel is the one with James Cameron's Oscar winning Titanic. What that love story starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet did for our knowledge of the Titanic, this book will do for the eruption that buried Pompeii. It is primarily a human story that lends immediacy to the known historical events. I bought the book in anticipation of an upcoming visit to the ruins of Pompeii. Being armed with a wealth of information about life in the city and its environs from the book, I now expect to better enjoy the trip. This is so much better than reading a dry guidebook (of which I have several; a good one is 'Pompeii' by Pier Giovanni Guzzo available at Amazon.com) that I strongly recommend this book to anyone planning to visit the Naples area.Book Review: Exciting, Fast Read
Summary: 4 Stars
I never would have guessed that an aquaduct could be so interesting, but discussions of water in "Pompeii" held me rapt. Not only was it fast paced and enthralling, it is fascinating to see how dependent the mighty Roman civilization was on its high tech (for the time) water system.
The main character, an earnest young engineer, is likeable and engaging. The female lead is a somewhat stereotypical fiery and rebellious girl. The villains are suitably disgusting, but not too interesting. The most terrifying villain is the looming Mt. Vesuvius, which any modern reader can expect to errupt, burying nearby towns in ashes and lava. The volcanic eruption is the true climax of the story, more frightening than any human's plot.
Obviously well-researched, "Pompeii" is a Roman thriller well worth a read.
Book Review: Fascinating and accurate telling of end of Pompeii
Summary: 4 Stars
Harris approaches his subject from an interesting angle. The hero is an engineer assigned to care for the water lines, reservoirs, and aqueducts which served Pompeii and a number of other towns in ancient Roman Italy. The young engineer shows up to take up the position left vacant by the previous, and missing, aquarius. Attilius is almost immediately saddled with a disaster: the aqueduct fails, and people begin to go thirsty. He must discover why the aqueduct has failed, what has happened to the previous aquarius and what to do with the daughter of a local former slave who has become the richest man in the area with a cruel streak to match his great wealth. Attilius must juggle all of this while he begins to realize that the water problems are somehow related to a reawakening of the volcano Vesuvius.
The book is quick paced, well written, suspenseful, and very enjoyable!