In ad 79, the volcano Vesuvius erupted, burying the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under ash and rock, and leaving them remarkably well preserved for centuries. While Pompeii has been extensively written about and popularized, the remains of its sister city, a smaller yet wealthier community close to the sea, are less widely known, but they have yielded spectacular archaeological evidence. This is the first major study of Herculaneum since that of Joseph Jay Deiss, published in 1966 and last revised in 1993. And in any language there have only ever been a handful of books available, mostly guidebooks and exhibition catalogues. Herculaneum is based on the latest excavation work and incorporates much new material that has revolutionized our understanding of the site. The book draws on a decade's work with the Herculaneum Conservation Project which, thanks to the Packard Humanities Institute, has begun to reverse the neglect of previous years which had reduced this extraordinary site to a critical condition. Illustrated with more than 300 newly taken colour photographs and archive illustrations, plus eight spectacular 360-degree panoramas, it is the definitive overview for the general public of what we know and understand about Herculaneum, of what is still unknown and mysterious, and of the potential for future discoveries in both archaeological and political contexts.

By:   Andrew Wallace-Hadrill
Imprint:   Frances Lincoln Publisher
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 34mm,  Width: 305mm,  Spine: 250mm
Weight:   2.377kg
ISBN:  

9780711231429

ISBN 10:   0711231427
Pages:   352
Publication Date:   May 2011
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Awaiting stock  
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CONTENTS 1. Geology and the Laws of Nature 2. The Politics of Discovery 3. Ruins Restored 4. The Town in Its Setting 5. The Public Face of the Town 6. Inhabitants 7. Standards of Living 8. High Life 9. Low Life 10. A Tale of Two Cities Epilogue: Saving the Past Further Reading Index Acknowledgments

Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, OBE, was the Director of the British School at Rome and is now Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He is Director for the Packard Humanities Institute of its Herculaneum Conservation Project. His books include Suetonius: The Scholar and his Caesars (1985), Augustan Rome (1993) and Houses and Society in Pompeii and Herculaneum (1994), and he will be featured in an upcoming Discovery Channel film on Pompeii debuting Sunday, March 13, 2011.

Andrew Wallace-Hadrill knows more about Herculaneum than anyone since AD 79. Here he distils that expertise to get right to the heart of this little Roman town. It's a must-read not just for anyone who plans to visit this amazing site, but for anyone who want to understand how the ordinary Roman world worked. Mary Beard Overall, however, one could hardly ask for a clearer, more comprehensive, and better illustrated guide to Herculaneum. Publishers Weekly After 10 years as director of the Herculaneum Conservation Project, there is no archaeologist better suited to raise this city form its relative obscurity than Wallace-Hadrill. His book is filled with hundreds of new and archival photographs, panoramic views, and an invaluable foldout map of the site. The book is arranged in highly readable chapters that focus not only on the history of excavations, ancient city planning and Herculaneum's vibrant fresco paintings and mosaics, but also succeed in populating those spaces. Wherever possible, Wallace-Hadrill tells the individual stories of slaves, citizens, and the elite, using the enormous wealth of archaeological evidence Herculaneum provides - residents' names, their houses, furniture and food, even their skeletons. While its visual appeal may lead readers to believe Herculaneum: Past and Future is merely a coffee-table book, the research Wallace-Hadrill presents is comprehensive and of the highest quality. The author has filled a gap in the public's knowledge of Herculanuem. Archaeology As an insight into this historic site this book is unparalleled in its scale and scope. It also makes essential reading for anyone who's interested in the Roman way of life, and the lessons we can learn about the past from what's left behind. It is compelling in its human element - one cannot help but be moved by the skeletons of the people who were killed so suddenly by the catastrophe - and is equally fascinating for its historic and scientific aspects. A wonderful book that will draw you in and thrill you for hours on end. Italia