An artful and wonderfully written description of ancient Herculaneum. The book concentrates on daily life of the Romans at the time of Herculaneum's destruction (Herculaneum is on a separate flank of Mt. Vesuvius, and also perished on August 24, 79 A.D.). Chapters cover various aspects of life in the town, from the poor to the rich, from the baths to the theatre. A marvelous evocation of ancient life, enlivened by careful consideration of the archeological evidence.  (ITL41, $18.95)

Ancient World