Review of Pompeii by Robert Harris

The destruction of Pompeii by Mount Vesuvius is a lesson most kids learn at school early on and can be quite vividly described thanks to the words of Pliny and also the architects that dug it out of the ash, pumice and lava that engulfed it in 79 AD.

Another view you might take is that of the classic BBC comedy series ‘Up Pompeii!’ which starred Frankie Howerd as the slave, Lurchio. This looked at the hedonistic angle with lots of double entendres, suggestive language and the like. Subtle it was not.

Pompeii, the novel, is a historical fiction set over four days – two before and the eruption itself which lasted two days.

It follows the struggle of the local aquarius, Attilius, as he tries to repair a breach in the Aqua Augusta, the aqueduct which feeds the whole of the Bay of Naples.

The picture that Harris draws of the Roman Empire ca 79 AD is very vivid and believable. The impression it gives is of a very civilised society that is happy with itself and its achievement. It is also obvious that in some respects certain issues are creeping into it that help to bring its downfall in a few centuries time, ie bureaucracy, corruption, complacence.

In the bookl, Attilius, is portrayed as a courageous, noble young man, who is there to make sure the job gets done no matter what.

After water starts drying up at the northern end of the aqueduct, he soon realises that there is a blockage further south and soon works out that this blockage is near Pompeii.

He assembles a team of workman, including the lazy, corrupt, Corax, and sails across the bay to investigate.

There he meets up with Ampliatus, the local proto Mafia boss, a freed slave who has Pompeii in the palm of his hand. Fortunately, Ampliatus is happy to lend him manpower and materials to help repair the aqueduct. At this point, Pompeii still has a supply so everyone is happy.

All the while there are signs that all is not well with minor earth tremors, rumbling and puffs of smoke from Vesuvius.

Obviously, we as an audience, know what’s going to happen when Vesuvius blows its top, but I suppose we’re rooting for some people hoping that they can survive.

Attilius manages to find his blockage and repair it before the eruption but decides to climb Vesuvius to find out what’s going on. Stupid idea you might think! At the top he finds the body of the former, aquarius, Exomnius, who died while investigating the volcano. At this point, Attilius realises, that Exomnius knew something was up and that Vesuvius might be about to erupt.

He descends the mountain and as he heads towards Herculaneum, the eruption starts.
The picture painted is awe inspiring and it has to be said besides earthquakes, volcanic eruptions on this scale are about the most violent thing that the world can produce.

At this point, its every man for himself and the whole bay starts fleeing.
Attilius decides he must get back to Misenum and find out what he can do to help.

Without going too much into detail the book continues with Attilius and Pliny attempting a rescue with the Roman Navy sailing across the bay. Unfortunately, this is doomed to failure and ends up with the fleet being sent every which way by the wind and the eruption.

The book ends as the eruption ends and it seems our hero may be dead or is he….?
After rescuing the bad guy’s daughter, Corelia, he holes up in the new bathhouse in Pompeii.
Legend has it that a couple was seen walking away from the ruins of Pompeii!


This is J adding a few comments as I've finished the book a couple of weeks ago. I liked it enough to finish it which is more than I can say about the last book group book. However I felt the book was generally too modern and out of keeping with the roman era. I read Pliny (older and younger) at school and felt the way he was portrayed very different from the way others have in the past.