Pompeii: A Novel by Robert Harris Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Pompeii: A Novel
Book Review: Fortune favors the brave!
Summary: 3 Stars
Pompeii is in the tradition of the best historical novel. Set right in the period of time right before and through the eruption of Vesuvius, Pompeii is told from the point of view of the water engineer for a nearby town.
Harris portrays a period in Roman history. He has done enough research to make the people and their culture come to life. His writing is adequate to the task but not brilliant--but who cares--this book is a lot of fun and a quick read!
Book Review: Fun mystery story
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a mystery story set in AD 79, just days before Mount Vesuvius buried Pompeii in a volcanic eruption. The new Aquarius (water engineer) of the area must find out what happened to his predecessor, who mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Meanwhile, he is vexed by a strange interruption to the water flow in the aquaduct, and a mystery of poisoned fish. Very fast paced, suspenseful, with good historical detail. It is like the movie "Titanic" in that you know the coming disaster, but not whether the characters will survive.
Book Review: Fun, Fast, and Informative
Summary: 4 Stars
This was the first book I've read of Robert Harris, and as it was recommended to me just a few weeks before going on a vacation that would include a trip to Pompeii, I thought I'd give it a shot. Harris' book breathed new life into the ruins as I visited them, and Vesuvius looked all the more menacing as it towered over Pompeii.
For me, what separated this book from your typical mass-market fiction was the research that Harris obviously put into this book, as well as the unique perspective he guides the reader from. Rather than an obvious main character (such as Pliny, or a generic centurion), we have Aquarius: a man of character and honor, who above all has a pretty cool job that provided a bit of suspense to a book with an inescapably obvious ending to anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of Roman history!
A fun summer read that's fascinating and well-written, Pompeii: A Novel provides a unique perspective on a famous natural disaster. I give it a solid 4-star recommendation.
Book Review: Great story
Summary: 5 Stars
Pompeii is a great story and Robert Harris is a great story-teller. I love reading historical novels that not only tell an interesting story, but provide you with fascinating information about the way of life and beliefs of the times. Pompeii is such a novel. Just like Harris' Imperium, it keeps you wanting for more.Book Review: Just an Entertainning, but a Very Good on That Novel
Summary: 5 Stars
Harris really hit the target with this atractive book. He writes well, makes smart use of the many details history knows about those terrifying days in Pompei, put his characters in the middle of all that with cunning and zest and so the result is, simply, that you just cannot leave the reading until the very last page. Very satisfactory book and besides instructive for those of us that did not know too much details about the catastrophe.