BOOKS ABOUT POMPEII (ERUPTION, ART & PLASTER CASTS)

For Children

Bodies from the Ash: life and Death in Ancient Pompeii

Ashen Sky: The Letters of Pliny The Younger on the Eruption of Vesuvius

Vacation Under The Volcano (Magic Tree House 13)

In Search of Pompeii

Pompeii (Roman World)

Earthly Remains: The History and Science of Preserved Human Bodies

Escape from Pompeii

 Pompeii...Buried Alive! (Step-Into-Reading, Step 4)

The Pirates of Pompeii

The Buried City of Pompeii: Picture Book

Resurrecting Pompeii

Pompeii has been continuously excavated and studied since 1784. Early scholars working in Pompeii and other sites associated with the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius were seduced by the wealth of artifacts and wall paintings yielded by the site. This meant that the less visually attractive evidence, such as human skeletal remains, were largely ignored. Recognizing the important contribution of the human skeletal evidence to the archaeology and history of Pompeii, Resurrecting Pompeii remedies this and provides students of archaeology and history with an essential resource in the study of this fascinating historical event. Published by Routledge.

The World of Pompeii  is the newest and most comprehensive survey of ancient Pompeii and its buried surrounding areas. Includes a CD with many Pompeii maps

The Complete Pompeii is the ultimate resource guide to the ancient town. 360 illustrations (320 in color), this volume is impressive. Highly, highly recommended!

Pompeii: Art and Treasures of a Buried City is stunning! A huge book, filled with exquisite photos and informative text about archaeological discoveries, this is a Pompeii treasure itself! Don't miss it!

Antiquity Recovered: The Legacy of Pompeii and Herculaneum thirteen academic essays published by the Getty Museum press, covering a range of topics. One of the chapters covers the first few plaster casts made by Fiorelli--not to be missed!

Cities of Vesuvius: Pompeii and Herculaneum This book presents a picture of life at the time Vesuvius erupted in a clear and vivid account: nonfiction that reads like a novel. Highly recommended!

Vesuvius A.D.79 Photo-filled, this  concise account includes the clearest and most scientific information about what really happened when Mt. Vesuvius erupted. Detailed information and pictures about the discovery of human remains. 

Ghosts of Vesuvius: A New Look at the Last Days of Pompeii, How Towers Fall, & Other Strange Connections A strange, but completely fascinating look at Pompeii, the twin towers, and other connections.

Pompeii is the book that came from a BBC documentary about the ancient city (and also shown on the Discovery Channel in the US). This book provides a massive amount of details about the city before, during and after the eruption of Vesuvius. Not to be missed!

Pompeii Awakened presents a thorough background to the ancient site and fills in many obscure details about its rediscovery, including what happened to Pompeii during Mussolini's rise and fall from power. Excellent!

The Lost World of Pompeii contains an excellent account of the eruption as well as the archaeological excavations. It also includes more than 150 new photographs. Published in association with the World Monuments Fund, it offers readers a comprehensive look at both Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Pompeii : The Living City recreates the bustling life of this Roman town, as well as the eruption

Pompeii A well-researched, very readable novel about Pompeii life leading up to (and including) the eruption. Recommended for those wanting to learn more about Pompeii through fiction! 

Pompeii Written by the superintendent of the ruins (with many others), this is an excellent guidebook to take on a trip to the ruins. It also is the perfect reference for anyone who wants more information about the various buildings and archaeological discoveries at Pompeii.

 Gladiators at Pompeii  Well-written look at a fascinating subject. Covers the details of gladiator combat in general as well as the spectacles at Pompeii. Includes a few pages on female gladiators. 

Women and Beauty in Pompeii explores the nature of female beauty in ancient Rome by studying depictions of heavenly and earthly women in Pompeian art. The first section discuss the care of the body, while the second section discusses adornments .

Pompeii by Alison Cooley examines the impact of science, archaeology, and politics upon interpretations of Pompeii over the last 250 years, including the ways in which vulcanology has transformed our picture of its last moments. Pompeii: A Sourcebook which is designed more for students and provides excerpts from primary sources on Pompeii.

And don't forget Herculaneum, Pompeii's neighboring city. One of the best books on the subject, good for both teens and adults, is The Town of Hercules: A Buried Treasure Trove. Clearly written, and well-illustrated, it explains what happened when Vesuvius erupted and the results of archaeological excavations: not only the artifacts but what the discoveries have revealed about the lives of both the wealthy and working people. An earlier edition by the same author is Herculaneum: Italy's Buried Treasure. Either one is highly recommended!