Herculaneum and the House of the Bicentenary

The text is engagingly written and masterfully structured, starting with the broad strokes of time and place, zeroing in to focus on a single grand house, the House of the Bicentenary, and then easing out again to consider and convey the urgency of conservation initiatives for the site and, implicitly, for archaeology writ large. . . . Highly recommended. --P. J. E. Davies Choice (5/1/2021 12:00:00 AM) A vivid and deeply interesting read. . . . It's visual, yet rich in content, and I'd recommend it to anyone with even a pinch of interest in Herculaneum or open-air heritage sites for that matter. --Jenny Mathiasson The C Word Podcast Superb. -- The Herculaneum Society With its lavish colour illustrations and thematic structure, the book's objective lies in 'presenting conservation and cultural heritage to a broad readership' (168). Particularly compelling is the discussion of how the Herculaneum Conservation Project, with support from the Packard Humanities Institute, has transformed the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum; there is due emphasis, too, on more recent partnerships with the Getty Conservation Institute, above all in restoring and preserving the frescoes of the House of the Bicentenary. -- Greece & Rome (3/16/2021 12:00:00 AM) Lavish colour illustrations. --Michael Squire Art and Archaeology (3/16/2021 12:00:00 AM) Ambitious. . . . Upon first reading, one cannot help but be impressed by the accessibility of the text, which is well supported by excellent photographs and illustrations. . . . A good addition to a recommended reading list for beginning students of archaeology, conservation, and classical studies yet also presents an interesting read for a professional conservator. --Dr. Alaina Schmisseur ICON News Well written, well edited, insightful, and enjoyable to read. . . . The publication is a strong contributor to helping elucidate and fortify the future preservation of Herculaneum. --Katharine Untch News in Conservation The authors breathe life into the ancient town, its shops, and its public baths. Full of gorgeous photos, helpful plans, and archival images, this abundantly illustrated book is a fantastic, accessible, and up-to-date overview of Herculaneum, its long history, and importantly, its conservation. --Lucia Marchini Minerva This beautifully presented book by Court and Rainer illustrates the cultural value of the ancient town of Herculaneum while at the same time shining a light on the challenges and triumphs of the archaeologists and conservators who work to preserve it. --Dr. Joanne Berry, Associate Professor, Department of Classics, Ancient History & Egyptology, Swansea University