In the Shadow of Vesuvius

'A fascinating, compelling and excellent biography of the two great Plinys of Ancient Rome, as well as a celebration of nature, a study of literature and the human soul, and a lens into Roman society itself ... This work of both scholarship and entertainment, arranged in Plinyesque seasons rather than strict chronology, is a delight that befits their high standards.' Simon Sebag Montefiore 'Starts with an erupting volcano - and then gets more exciting. A wonderfully rich, witty, insightful and wide-ranging portrait of the two Plinys ... and their world.' Sarah Bakewell 'Daisy Dunn's book is an absolute delight. Meticulously researched and beautifully crafted, it shines a clear beam of light into the private lives of Pliny the Elder and Younger.' Giles Milton 'Immensely entertaining and readable .... Dunn has given us a delightful new biography ... Thoroughly recommended' Sunday Times 'Never less than compelling ... Without ever veering into historical fiction, she consistently succeeds in bringing what might otherwise seem dusty and remote to vivid life ... A portrait of the Roman Empire that gives the reader something of the shiver down the spine that Herculaneum can inspire' Tom Holland, Literary Review 'It is a story ...retold with vivid flair...Dunn knits [the two Plinys'] lives together well and analyses the influence that they would have later on scholars from the Italian Renaissance to the English Romantic poets' The Times 'An enthralling and ambitious book ... Dunn has a great eye for a story, and writes wonderfully' The Daily Telegraph 'Daisy Dunn's nuanced biography breathes new life ... An evocative portrait of Renaissance men before the Renaissance' Nature 'Daisy Dunn is to be congratulated ... There can be few other Roman characters who would not come to life thanks to her discerning judgement, her eye for detail, her wide research and her lively pen' Catholic Herald