The waters have stopped flowing from the aquedect - who you gonna call? Dambusters! The water engineer heads out amid widespread corruption in Pompeii, thwarts a murder plot, finds out what happened to his predecessor, falls in love, and investigates the ominous rumbling from the nearby Vesuvius.

Sounds good no? Harris is good at building up the air of menace in the days preceding the eruption. Every action can be looked at as minor compared to the devastation coming and he really does a great job of creating an atmosphere of anticipation in the reader. He's also done a great job at recreating the feel of living in Roman times, as well as supplying a lot of information on Roman aqueducts giving you a sense of awe and genius for the Roman Empire.

Where he falls down though is in the characterisation. Attilius, the engineer, is the hero. He's a stoic, good looking gent who sends his pay home to his mother and sister in Rome. He doesn't take bribes, he's hardworking, and is disliked for his strict attention to detail (all for the good of Rome naturally). He's so perfect in fact that he's boring. But he's not alone. A equally dreary love interest is introduced who meets the engineer no more than 3 times briefly but over the course of those 3 encounters the reader is supposed to buy that they have fallen madly in love and would die for each other. The whole reason for the engineer to rush back to Pompeii after escaping it is because of this love interest and as such everything feels very contrived.

It's this lack of convincing that stops the reader in their tracks because there's no real reason, once the eruptions start, to care what the engineer's motivations are. He's a paper thin cardboard cut out and so is his love interest. So what?

The third act also falls down. Harris does a great job of setting the scene but once Vesuvius erupts he somehow manages to make it boring. For a thriller to fail in the third act is not a good sign and I could quite easily put the book down and do anything else.

It's not a bad novel by any means it just seems trite at times which spoils the overall effect. Harris has obviously done his research, it's just a shame the same effort didn't go into making an interesting enough scenario to take place during this immense natural disaster or characters worth caring about.

Πάντα θαύμαζα τα ρωμαϊκά υδραγωγεία,αυτό το θαύμα της μηχανικής,και πάντα με γοήτευε η ιστορία της έκρηξης του Βεζούβιου και η θαμμένη πολιτεία της Πομπηίας.Οπότε αυτό ήταν το ιδανικό βιβλίο για μένα.
Θα πω το υπέρτατο κλισέ(δεν μπορώ να το αποφύγω) που λένε συνήθως όσοι γράφουν τις απόψεις τους για τα βιβλία που διάβασαν(όχι το "διαβάζεται απνευστί",το άλλο ): o Χάρις ,λοιπόν,ζωντανεύει την ιστορία.Σε κάνει να νιώθεις οτι είσαι εκεί,οτι περπατάς δίπλα στον Ατίλιο,ότι νιώθεις τη ζέστη,την ξηρασία,το έδαφος να δονειται κάτω απο τα πόδια σου.Βλέπεις το υδραγωγείο,τις κολώνες του,τα τούνελ του ,ακούς τη βουή του νερού.Περπατάς στους πολύβουους δρόμους της Πομπηίας και ανεβαίνεις στον Βεζούβιο.
Οι περιγραφές του είναι εξαιρετικές και δεν γίνονται ποτέ κουραστικές.Και όταν φτάνει η ώρα της έκρηξης ψάχνεις μέρος να κρυφτείς.
Η ιστορία είναι απλή:ο Ατίλιος έρχεται απο τη Ρώμη για να αντικαταστήσει τον προηγούμενο υπεύθυνο του Υδραγωγείου που έχει εξαφανιστεί μυστηριωδώς.Βρίσκει τους εργαζόμενους εκεί λίγο εχθρικούς απέναντι του αλλά πριν προλάβει καλά καλά να τακτοποιηθεί αρχίζουν τα προβλήματα.Η ξηρασία είναι έντονη και το ζωτικής σημασίας σύστημα ύδρευσης αρχίζει να στερεύει και χιλιάδες κόσμος μένει χωρίς νερό.Ο Ατίλιος πρέπει να βρει τη βλάβη και να την επιδιορθώσει άμεσα την ώρα που κάποιοι ραδιουργούν εναντίον του.Εντωμεταξύ ο Βεζούβιος στέλνει κι άλλα σημάδια για το τι πρόκειται να συμβεί (ψάρια ψοφάνε,το νερό μυρίζει θειάφι,η γη δονείται)αλλά κανείς,ούτε καν ο γνωστός συγγραφέας και φυσιοδίφης Πλίνιος,δεν κατάφερε να προβλέψει την καταστροφή εγκαιρως.Ή μήπως οχι;Πού εξαφανίστηκε ο πρώην υπεύθυνος του Υδραγωγείου;
Πολύ ωραίο βιβλίο,διαβάζεται εύκολα κι ευχάριστα και πραγματικα το απόλαυσα.Έχει και την αμερικανιά του ,απο ένα σημείο και μετά θυμίζει ταινία καταστροφής αλλά in a good way.Το αρνητικό του είναι οτι οι χαρακτήρες δεν έχουν ιδιαίτερο βάθος,περισσότερο υπάρχουν για να εξυπηρετούν την πλοκή και νομίζω οτι οι πραγματικοί πρωταγωνιστές του βιβλίου είναι ο Βεζούβιος και η Aqua Augusta το εντυπωσιακό σύστημα ύδρευσης του κόλπου της Νάπολης.

Siendo yo una apasionada por la historia, muchas veces se me recomendó que leyera novela histórica. Siendo así, no había hecho caso a estas recomendaciones hasta que se me cruzó este libro.
Ha sido genial leer sobre Roma en uno de los momentos en los que el imperio aún era fuerte, vengo de leer otra novela donde relatan cómo esta gran nación comenzó a caer por ahí del principios del siglo V.
Le doy 4 estrellas solo porque el inicio fue muy soso. Por lo demás, asombrosa y excelente

Pompeii by Robert Harris is a gripping historical novel set in the days leading up to the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. The story is about Marcus Attilius Primus, an engineer, who discovers a mysterious blockage in the Aqua Augusta. This is an aqueduct that supplies water to the towns around the Bay of Naples. He uncovers signs of an impending disaster. Harris masterfully blends historical detail with suspense, which creates a portrayal of ancient Roman life. The novel is both informative and thrilling. Harris’ amazing research and attention to detail makes it a wonderful read.

3 ½ stars

I have wanted to read this book for a decade

I’ve loved science, and particularly geology, from a very early age, and chose a science class in 5th grade that focused on volcanoes, so my interest is long standing.

I think a non-fiction book about this eruption, if it contained all the known information and conjectures, might have been an even better choice for me.

I got used the fictional story and it did provide a fairly good backdrop for the setting and happenings in that time and place. There is a very long build up though. At times the story had me rolling my eyes and laughing in places where I’m sure it wasn’t meant for the reader to laugh, which surprised me given the author. It read very much like a cheesy soap opera at times. Particularly at the end there were things I both loved and hated in the historical fiction story. I was left conflicted about whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars. I suspect that I might be upping it a star because I’m so fascinated with the events, and perhaps it should be the other way around and I should downgrade it. I did like the characters and events that seemed to be based on history, and was touched a few parts at the end, but overall the whole narrative seemed like something I had to get through to find out exactly what happened at Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. I’d already read some accounts so I had an idea of what to expect. For me the story did drag at times, and that shouldn’t happen with this subject matter! For all my complaints, the fictional story was a good vehicle to tell the geological story and its toll on the area and its inhabitants.

I was impressed by the Romans’ accomplishments, and learned quite a bit about their culture.

Of course, I loved the map (I frequently referred to it) and the description/names of time keeping and calendar in that era Rome, and really appreciated the informative quotes from non-fiction books that are at the beginning of every chapter.

I was dismayed that in the last few pages the author’s words/musings has me suspecting that he might be a denier of human caused climate change.

I am still eager to read his book Fatherland.

Before he wrote “Imperium” and “Lustrum”, his two magnificent novels of the Cicero trilogy (Now available “Dictator”, the third one, which I’m eager to read), Robert Harris wrote “Pompeii”, a novel based on the historical volcano eruption during the roman era. Having visited the place a few years ago I wanted to not miss this one.
Not to the great standard as the Cicero ones, “Pompeii” is nevertheless a great read, full of realistic moments about the inferno that took place on 24 August 79 AD, through the eyes of the aqueduct builder. It feels quite real. The preface on each chapter, about volcano eruptions studies are very well interspersed, a good adition to the unfolding drama. I found the descriptions mind blowing. Yes, I enjoyed “Pompeii”, and now can’t wait to finish the Cicero final one, “Dictator”.

2.5 stars.

This was okay; I actually read most of it while on holiday in Sorrento (and we did visit Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius) so, as cliche as it sounds, being there brought it to life for me. Otherwise, I don't think I would have been nearly so engaged. I did like the historical aspects (though there is a LOT of detail about the inner-working of aqueducts) and Attilius was a likeable MC, but there aren't that many surprises (the hero is very, very good; the baddie is very, very bad - also - the bit with the eels, ewww). It did add to the poignancy, though, as Harris makes these characters feel 'real'. I will forever remember how our guide on the tour of the ruins described the deaths of the poor people, how those in Pompeii would have choked on the gases and ash, knowing death was coming, whereas those at Herculaneum were wiped out instantaneously, which is why many of the bodies are in more relaxed poses. Horrifying.

A natural history page-turning thriller!

Dateline, August 79 AD: Marcus Attilius Primus, a young, savvy aquarius, or water engineer, has been sent from Rome as replacement for the AWOL Exomnius to ensure the proper maintenance of Aqua Augusta, the aqueduct that supplies Pompeii, Herculaneum and the towns on the Bay of Naples. Investigation into the problem of the aqueduct drying up and its failure to deliver its critical liquid payload uncovers not only municipal theft of water and graft of epic proportions but natural problems and concerns relating to Vesuvius and its pending eruption - tremors, pollution of the water with sulphur emissions, rockfalls, and shifts and bulges in the earth's surface, not to mention breakages and blockages in the aqueduct itself.

Insofar as the eruption of Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum are concerned, we all know how the story ends. So it fell to Harris' skill as a writer to build and maintain momentum and suspense in spite of that. With the clever device of a brief excerpt from a scientific treatise on volcanism serving as a preface to every chapter plus absolutely scintillating descriptive writing, what might have been a monumentally boring exposition of the final few hours leading up to Vesuvius' cataclysmic eruption becomes rather a thrilling natural history page turner that actually had my stomach twisted up into knots as I felt the clock ticking toward the inevitable catastrophe!

The resolution of Exomnius' disappearance and the discovery of the theft of water by Numerius Popidius Ampliatus, an ex-slave and now Pompeii's wealthiest citizen, serve as a springboard for Harris' outstanding description of an extraordinary cross section of daily life in the ancient Roman provinces - slaves vs freemen, men vs women, and children, the luxury and indolence of the wealthy vs the difficulties and squalid conditions of the poor, politicians vs their constituency, the use of the "games" as a means of distracting and buying off the general population, the baths, and the Roman diet. His charming portrayal of Pliny the Elder and the discussions surrounding the aqueduct problem will amaze and delight readers with the surprising level of sophistication of Roman science and engineering.

Sadly, the dénouement after the eruption and Harris' winding down of the romantic involvement of Marcus Attilius with Corelia Ampliata, who is promised under a contract of marriage to one of Pompeii's leading politicos, just doesn't come anywhere close to the standards of the first three-quarters of the book! What might have been a five-star book that I was tempted to place in my "Top Ten All-Time" list became merely good as I closed the covers on the final few chapters! Too bad, for sure, but 4-star recommendations are nothing to sniff at! POMPEI was well worth my time and I enjoyed it immensely.

Paul Weiss

One of the best reads I have enjoyed for a long time. A relatively new writer for me but I love the way he brings History to life and weaves in a good old thriller to help it along.

Well worth a read, this is the second of his books I have recently read and there will certainly be more to follow.

Volcanoes.
What child isn’t intrigued with their power and scared by their force?
We don’t build major population centers around them for good reason. But in ancient times, a dormant volcano was not well understood and the resorts/trade centers of Pompeii and Herculaneum became rich and populous in the shadow of Vesuvius, and Harris writes about the consequences.

This is a novel but it has much of the science of volcanic eruption that I found in Simon Winchester’s Krakatoa https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
But, more credit to Harris, he weaves it into a plot involving a new “aquarius,” a chief engineer responsible for one of the Roman Empire’s aqueducts. The Aqua Augusta’s previous engineer has gone missing and Marcus Attilus Primus, from a long line of water engineers is persuaded to fill the gap. What he doesn’t know is that Vesuvius is about to erupt and that its early stages are responsible for the problems with the aqueduct.

We know a great deal about the lifestyles of this period of Roman history because they have been perfectly captured in the ash, etc. by the eruption. Harris creates a story of vanity, corruption, duty, honor, family and politics that brings it all into focus. 4.5*

I want to add a few quotes:

“Baths were not a luxury. Baths were the foundation of civilization. Baths were what raised even the meanest citizen of Rome above the level of the wealthiest hairy-assed barbarian. Baths instilled the triple disciplines of cleanliness, heathfulness, and strict routine. Was it not to feed the baths that the aqueducts had been invented in the first place? Had not the baths spread the Roman ethos across, Europe, Africa and Asia as effectively as the legions, so that in whatever town in this far-flung empire a man might find himself, he could at least be sure of finding this one precious piece of home?”

“While rocks are extremely strong in compression, they are weak in tension…Thus, the strength of the rocks capping a cooling and vesiculating magma body is easily exceeded long before the magma is sold. Once this happens, an explosive eruption occurs.”

“But it was not jus Pompeii’s buildings he knew. It was its people, and the mysterious working of its soul, especially at elections: five neighborhood wards – Forenses, Campanienses, Salinienses, Urbulanenses, Pagani – in each of which he had an agent: and all the craft guilds – the laundrymen, the bakers, the fishermen, the perfume makers, the goldsmiths, and the rest – again, he had them covered.”


Discoveries about Pompeii are still being made. In 2020, A fast-food eatery at Pompeii has been excavated, helping to reveal dishes that were popular for the citizens of the ancient Roman city who were partial to eating out.
“Pompeii Archaeological Park’s longtime chief, Massimo Osanna said Saturday that while some 80 such fast-foods have been found at Pompeii, it is the first time such a hot-food-drink eatery — known as a thermopolium — was completely unearthed.”

https://apnews.com/article/animals-c0...

Stunning historic fiction. Through the eyes of an engineer, a keen observer or natural phenomena and a millionaire, we trace the events leading up to the Vesuvius eruption.

I especially liked the tidbits before each chapter, that are taken from various scientific books on Volcanos. They tied the plot together and formed a basis for the fictionalised storytelling.

Three stars is sufficient for this one. It was good; not great, not awful.

Credit should be given where due - Robert Harris is a great writer. In terms of grammar and sentence structure, his writing is fluid and lyrical. He's definitely got a knack for the language. And given the topic of this novel, it could have been easy to lose yourself - and certainly the reader - in the historical terms and mumbo-jumbo, but he didn't. He did a good job of balancing the scientific and historical stuff with the story line so as not to lose the reader.

A couple of criticisms: I didn't much care for the characters. I didn't feel attached to them like one would hope when reading a novel. I didn't care if they lived or died. The same thing happened with me in the other Harris novel I read (Fatherland). The characters felt more like placeholders rather than true parts of the story that are meant to drive the plot along. Further, at times it felt like Harris was confused about the volcano's role in the story; there were long periods where Vesuvius didn't exist in the story, and then long periods where it was the central focus, particularly near the end, which was to be expected. I think Harris wanted us to be suspicious of the volcano, mistrustful perhaps, but that was marred by the fact that everyone and their dog knows what happened when the volcano erupted. In fairness, it would have been nearly impossible to convince a reader that there was nothing to worry about, as far as Vesuvius was concerned. I can let that pass easily enough; he did put a good deal of effort in showing us that the people involved were genuinely confused about the signs leading up to the eruption.

I think I'd have enjoyed this novel if it was longer, honestly. Harris could have easily turned this into a Pillars of the Earth-esque novel, 1000-plus pages and it would have in turn been a more captivating read. If he'd given himself more space he could have taken the time to let us get to know the characters, to love or hate them, and then the climax would have been far more effective.

On the whole, not the most captivating piece of historical fiction I've ever read, but certainly not the dullest either. I'll definitely read another Harris book.