Pompeii Awakened, reviewed by Lisa Finerty, Secret Gardens Italy
Judith Harris's Pompeii Awakened is Indiana Jones on steriods --- and because it's nonfiction, I read it guilt-free even during the day! It is interesting even if you have never been to Italy, but it is fantastic insight for anyone who has been or is coming to Naples and Pompeii.
Much more than a story inspired by the frozen timecapsule of the 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius, Pompeii Awakened relates the struggle to claim, coopt and exploit the legend and archeology of Imperial Rome's most luxurious beach towns (where history's rich and famous vacationed when Rome was the superpower of the Mediterranean) by European rulers since its romanicized discovery in 1748.
Vesuvius's cultural legacy, starting with the Grand Tour 200 years ago, had a profound, if not direct, effect on contemporary and subsequent European history. Through Judith's insights, we understand why the active excavations on this stunningly beautiful coastline continue to be among the most visited sites in a country known for its monuments. Pompeii Awakened details the attraction of the world's art, political and the financial elite, and details some of the reasons why most world cultures continue to be fascinated with Vesuvius archeology even today.
Judith has written on Mediterranean archeology for over 40 years. She has unique insights and prospectives of history's protagonists in Italy, Europe and America, and she writes well. Pompeii Awakened tells a number of stories about the legend that has made Vesuvius a worldwide cultural icon. As written, it could be three screenplays, it is that interesting! Highly recommend.
More about Pompeii Awakened:
Compare Prices for Pompeii Awakened
Read more about the book and author - Judith Harris
