Echoes of Ash

Frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, discover Herculaneum: a remarkable window into the ancient past

‘Finally, a book that puts Herculaneum back on the map!’ – Dr Daisy Dunn

‘What an extraordinary tour de force!' – Dr Sophie Hay

‘This is an absolute must-read…’ – Dr Jessica Venner

On a beach near Naples in October 79 CE, more than 300 people stand on a beach, hoping for an evacuation that will never come. Vesuvius has erupted, and there is no time to escape. They will all be killed instantly in the suffocating, hellishly hot devastation that follows.

This was the end of their town, but it is not the end of their story. Neighbouring the world-renowned Pompeii, the town of Herculaneum is the neglected victim of Vesuvius. It was uniquely preserved in the aftermath of the eruption, and in many ways gives us unparalleled glimpses into the past.

Echoes of Ash tells the fascinating story of Herculaneum and the people who lived there for the first time. By looking through the eyes of such figures as the Weaver and the Slave Girl, the Soldier and the Boxer, and by investigating the relevant buildings and the archaeological discoveries of the past twenty years, acclaimed historian Adrian Murdoch builds a historical picture that is more colourful, complete and alive than has ever been possible before.