The authors are an archaeologist/historian and a dramatist: Laurence contributes up-to-date research while Butterworth puts human flesh on dry bones. What the authors have done is to attempt to tell the story of the last twenty-five years of Pompeii's existence in somethng of the style of a novel.' - JEREMY PATERSON LITERARY REVIEW 'This book attempts to restore meaning to the dusty ruins with notable success.

Now he has teamed up with Alex Butterworth, a writer and dramatist to bring the city to life in a more readily accessible and attractive fashion. Ray Laurence is well qualified to make the attempt. 'It takes a real act of imagination to recreate the life that once filled the city's streets. 'synopsis' may belong to another edition of this title.

So we follow Suedius Clemens who has been sent by Vespasian to settle disputes over land Decimus Satrius Lucretius Valens who is set to join Pompeii's elite magistrates following the death of his protector the Vettii brothers who were fabulously rich and ostentacious dealers in wine and perfume Pherusa, the runaway slave lusty young Rustus who is contemplating parricide. By concentrating on key members from each strata of Pompeiian society we are plunged into the everyday life of a city rebuilding itself, in the knowledge that it will all be for nothing when Vesuvius erupts. Alex Butterworth and Ray Laurence have synthesised the latest research into Pompeii to bring this period of flux and instability back to life. This startling new book concentrates on the twenty years between 59 and 79AD, thus beginning with the earthquake which all but destroyed Pompeii and ending with the volcanic eruption which has become part of our collective popular imagination. A visceral history of Pompeii - the living city brought back to life.

Pompeii by Alex Butterworth