Synopses & Reviews
Review
"With incredibly engrossing images and narrative, this is a powerful and poignant piece of nonfiction."–School Library Journal, starred
Review
"With incredibly engrossing images and narrative, this is a powerful and poignant piece of nonfiction."and#150;School Library Journal, starred School Library Journal, Starred
"The jewels here are the numerous black-and-white (and some color) photographs. . . . Excellent for browsers as well as researchers." and#150;and#150;Booklist Booklist, ALA
Synopsis
In ancient times, Pompeii was one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire. Its 20,000 inhabitants lived in the shadow of Vesuvius, which they believed was nothing more than a mountain. But Vesuvius was a volcano. And on the morning of August 24, A.D. 79, Vesuvius began to erupt. Within twenty-four hours, the entire city of Pompeiiand#151;and many of its citizensand#151;had been utterly annihilated.
It was not until hundreds of years later that Pompeii saw daylight again, as archaeological excavations began to unearth what had been buried under layers of volcanic rubble. Digging crews expected to find buildings and jewelry and other treasures, but they found something unexpected, too: the imprints of lost Pompeiians, their deaths captured as if by photographic images in volcanic ash.
About the Author
James M. Deem introduces readers to one of the world's original disaster stories and the startling discoveries that have been made as the people and the city of Pompeii have been slowly, painstakingly, brought back to life. Mr. Deem is the author of numerous books for young readers. He lives outside Phoenix, Arizona.