Fascinating historical novel. You will learn much about Roman life, engineering, and poloitics set against the eventual eruption of the Mount Vesuvius.

I enjoyed this book alot. It seemed to have been based on alot of factual knowledge about the times and the technology of the aqueducts. The story was engaging and kept me turning the pages! I happened to have visited the ruins at Pompeii about 8 years ago, and reading this book i could visualize the town I walked, but alive with people and commerce. I recommend this to people who enjoy historical fiction.

Pompeii is a fictional story by Robert Harris revolving around the 4 days prior to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Attilius an aqueduct engineer from Rome was sent to replace a missing engineer Exomnius for the Aqua Augusta.
Attilius arrives and is immediately faced with a plethora of natural and manmade problems revolving around the water supply. The story evolves as Attilius tries to unravel the problems with the water and the missing Exomnius. Robert Harris has written this historic fiction well grounded in the technical information from this historic period.
So this is how I like to my facts well mixed up with murder, mayhem with an explosive ending.

Excellent story. Mystery and history combined. Great characters.

Good historiacl fiction. The story kept me interested all the way to the end.

What a great story! I thought to myself it's Pompeii, I know how it turns out, but it actually had a very interesting ending. Captures the time and place so well.

An enjoyable read. Kept my interest throughout.

Interesting; makes me want to visit Pompeii and other places in that part of Italy

Great historical fiction.

Interesting and quick read.

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I really enjoyed this book historically speaking. The wealth of information was wonderful; the story could be summed up in 3 lines. This book brings in many aspects of Roman society from the brothels to the wealth and extravagance, however I found the the rest lacking. I walked away knowing just how wonderful and important the water system was, but was very hungry for more. Don't expect the darn volcano to explode until the last chapter or two and don't expect the ending to be that realistic either. Very well researched, but I think the author ran out of room for the story. Needless to say, because I love a good historically researched fiction I gave this 4.5 stars and would read it again...when I forget how that aqueduct worked.

good book

Historical thriller that takes place in the heyday of the Roman Empire

Interesting take on a historical event.

This latest "New York Times" bestseller by the author of "Archangel" chronicles the suspenseful last days of the legendary ancient city nestled below the slopes of the volcano Mount Vesuvius. "[An] intelligent, engaging historical novel.

I really enjoyed this book. I love reading about the Roman Empire and the decedent life style of that time. I won't even mention the similarities in our way of life. This book was great in that it takes place in the last few days of Pompeii. It cuts right to the chase.

From Publishers Weekly
In this fine historical by British novelist Harris (Archangel; Enigma; Fatherland), an upstanding Roman engineer rushes to repair an aqueduct in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, which, in A.D. 79, is getting ready to blow its top. Young Marcus Attilius Primus becomes the aquarius of the great Aqua Augusta when its former chief engineer disappears after 20 years on the job. When water flow to the coastal town of Misenum is interrupted, Attilius convinces the admiral of the Roman fleet-the scholar Pliny the Elder-to give him a fast ship to Pompeii, where he finds the source of the problem in a burst sluiceway. Lively writing, convincing but economical period details and plenty of intrigue keep the pace quick, as Attilius meets Corelia, the defiant daughter of a vile real estate speculator, who supplies him with documents implicating her father and Attilius's predecessor in a water embezzlement scheme. Attilius has bigger worries, though: a climb up Vesuvius reveals that an eruption is imminent. Before he can warn anyone, he's ambushed by the double-crossing foreman of his team, Corvax, and a furious chase ensues. As the volcano spews hot ash, Attilius fights his way back to Pompeii in an attempt to rescue Corelia. Attilius, while possessed of certain modern attitudes and a respect for empirical observation, is no anachronism. He even sends Corelia back to her cruel father at one point, advising her to accept her fate as a woman. Harris's volcanology is well researched, and the plot, while decidedly secondary to the expertly rendered historic spectacle, keeps this impressive novel moving along toward its exciting finale.

The ruin of Pompii

An historical thriller, about the last days of Pompeii. A very thought-provoking, richly characterized novel, with awesome descriptions of nature's fury. Lively writing, richly detailed, very engrossing.

dry...yes in parts but if you like historical novels you will enjoy this one. it gives you the "backgrouond" on what might have happened on the days leading up to the erution of Vesuvius. it tells its tale from the perspective of the aquarian,the man who keeps the water safe.
a good fast read

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