Some 2000 years ago, within the space of a few hours, the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were overwhelmed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius and were buried deep under the earth. They were not destroyed however, but on the contrary, they were preserved. The author, an eminent historian and classicist, here describes life in these two cities in a way which is both scholarly and readable. Superb photographs by Werner Forman in both black and white and colour.