Gr 5-9 Life in the thriving Roman city of Pompeii stopped on August 24, a.d. 79, when the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius covered the seven-square mile city with lava, freezing it in time. By pouring concrete into spaces left by decayed organic matter and then breaking away the lava, archaeologists are able to create exact casts of figures and objects. Even plant roots can be duplicated using this technique. This uniquely preserved city gives a well-rounded picture of Roman times. In describing various private homes and public buildings and their functions, the Goors reveal a lot about Pompeian life and Roman society in general. Pompeii is brought to life even more by the Goors' inclusion of graffiti found on walls, recipes, and other anecdotal material. Exquisite black-and-white photographs on almost every page elucidate the text of this carefully designed book and evoke a mood of a beautiful, long vanished civilization. Latin terms and their definitions are integrated into the text. This readable history will be useful for assignments and as supplementary material on Roman life. A fascinating book that should excite young readers about ancient history. Marguerite F. Raybould, Glendale Public Library, Calif. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D.79 buried the Roman town of Pompeii under a thick layer of ash and stone. The hardened ash and lava obliterated all traces of Pompeii's existence, but also preserved the streets, marketplaces, public buildings, private homes, furnishings, artwork and graffiti that later revealed the city as a thriving commercial and agricultural center. Fifteen hundred years later, this prosperous ancient city was uncovered, piece by piece; this book skillfully recounts the drama and excitement of its discovery and subsequent exploration. The authors use the findings of archeologists to describe life as it existed in the Roman empire, yet their prose is never dry or overly technical. The many strong photographs add to the sense of wonder that the book creates, clearly illustrating the astonishingly well-preserved streets and buildings of Pompeii. The words and picturestogether tell a truly incredible story.(10-14) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Gr. 5-7. When Mount Vesuvius erupted on an August day in A.D. 79, the city of Pompeii was covered with stone and ash and remained that way for the next 1,500 years. In 1594 workmen uncovered a few pieces of ruined buildings, but it was not until 1709 that the first real excavation took place. Since then, various archaeologists have explored the site and made astonishing finds. Beginning with the history, the Goors go on to describe the destruction, discovery, and surviving structural features of Pompeii the walls and gates, streets, and aquaducts. With rich detail, the authors discuss the major facets of Pompeiian life as it once existed (deduced from the digs) such as the people's religion, homes, commercial life, childhood, and entertainment. Even the graffiti on the walls is preserved. All of this information is illustrated with numerous black-and-white photographs crisp, clear, and exceptionally interesting. Worthwhile for students and a pleasure for browsers. IC. 937'.7 Pompeii (Ancient city) [CIP] 85-47895

A splendid photographic and verbal re-creation of the city buffed by Vesuvius in A.D. 79, as it was in its prime and is today. Beginning with an account of the city's destruction and rediscovery, most of the book is devoted to descriptions of life in Pompeii as it can be inferred from the remarkably preserved remains, excavated only in the last 200 years. Simple maps provide orientation; a wealth of sharply defined black-and-white photos of artifacts, ruins, and other traces form a stage to be peopled by the reader's imagination, with details provided by the clear, informative text. So vivid is this induced world that the occasional drawings showing how it might have been seem superfluous, even intrusive. Inserts containing translations of graffiti, recipes, notes on gardens, etc. lend color and authenticity. The importance of scrupulous archeological excavation of such a site and its contribution to understanding the past are made clear both explicitly and implicitly. Whoever took those fine photographs (the authors?) deserves credit. Index. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.