Through Time: Pompeii

by Richard Platt, Manuela Cappon (Illustrator)

This sumptuous, innovative recreation of Roman life traces the rise and fall of a great empire. Superb illustrations retell the lost story of Pompeii—the life of its people, its conflicts and disasters, and the changing fortunes of a house at the center of it all. Beginning in the sixth century bce, a simple hut becomes a farmhouse, and gradually the farmhouse is swallowed up by the expanding new city of Pompeii. The house grows as the city and its inhabitants prosper. But finally it also suffers the devastating effects of the natural disaster that swallowed up the city—the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This is the story of the growth and destruction of a house, a city, and an empire. Further, it is a tale of discovery and revelation that tracks the extraordinary archaeological work involved in unearthing and
interpreting Pompeii's remains.

Genres: History, Childrens, Nonfiction, Picture Books

48 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2007

About the author

(1953–)

Richard Platt is the author of more than sixty informative books for young readers, and he also writes for innovative multimedia projects. Some of his most popular works have been collaborations with illustrator Stephen Biesty on the "Cross-Sections" series. After a failed attempt to forge a career as a photographer, Platt discovered that he had a knack for writing. "I started writing about photography: first magazine articles, then books," he explained on the Walker Books Web site. "I got a job editing children's books, then went on to write them."

In the 1990s, Platt teamed up with popular juvenile illustrator Biesty for several books, beginning with Stephen Biesty's Incredible Cross-Sections Book, published in 1992. The following year, a second volume in the series, Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Man-of-War, proved equally interesting for late-elementary-age readers, especially those enchanted by seventeenth-century battleships. Alongside Biesty's cutaway illustrations, Platt provides explanatory text that indicates the purpose and activities in each section of the ship. The hardships of life aboard such vessels for their often 800-member crews are not overlooked, either, and the drawings depict food rations crawling with maggots and a doctor's pail containing severed limbs. Ellen Mandel, writing for Booklist, asserted that Platt's "intriguing text" serves to make "this meticulously presented book a treasure of factual content and visual imagery."

For Stephen Biesty's Incredible Everything, Platt provides informative paragraphs to accompany the illustrations for many everyday products, such as athletic shoes and compact discs. Much of the text revolves around the manufacturing process. Stephen Biesty's Incredible Body is a lesson in human anatomy, with sections on each of the body's systems and several major organs; the digestive system alone takes up four pages. Platt has also worked with the illustrator on Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections Castle and Stephen Biesty's Incredible Explosions.

Working with publisher Dorling Kindersley, Platt has authored several titles in their "Eyewitness" series, some of which have appeared in the United States under the Knopf/Borzoi imprint. Pirate details the world of corsairs, privateers, and crime on the high seas throughout history. A reviewer for Science Books and Films, Richard B. Woodbury, praised the work as "a veritable miniencyclopedia or minimuseum" and "a pleasure to look at." Spy chronicles the history of espionage and the decisive role intelligence-gathering triumphs have played in history. Of particular emphasis are the code-breaking endeavors by Allied intelligence networks during World War II. Shipwreck, also part of the "Eyewitness" series, investigates famous sea disasters and rescues. Like the other books in the popular series, Shipwreck is lavishly illustrated. Chris Stephenson, writing in School Librarian, called it "an excellent source of historical evidence and nautical information."

Platt has also written several books about inventions. His The Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions, which appeared in 1994, won praise from reviewers for its comprehensiveness. Platt divides the development of technology throughout the ages into five sections, including agriculture, conquest, and communication. The timeline begins at 600,000 BCE, around the time humans likely began using fire, and includes predictions for innovations that may occur in the near future. Cathryn A. Camper, reviewing The Smithsonian Visual Timeline of Inventions for School Library Journal, praised Platt's skilled use of illustration and text, which the critic felt "teaches a sophisticated form of literacy similar to" that provided with multimedia learning tools—an area in which Platt already had a great deal of writing experience. "Readers will delight in the colorful pictures and the text, which gives just enough information to satisfy curiosity," opined Voice of Youth Advo

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a neat story of a house in the Roman City of Pompeii and it gives a 2,000 year history of this one area. It shows how the town started and grew and became a very wealthy city. There was an earthquake and the city recovered and then the Volcano exploded. It then goes on and shows how the ruins were discovered and how scientists and archeologist figured out what was happening.

The artwork is great and detailed to show what was happening and it gives a sense of life lived at the time. There is a lot of detailed history of the city. Each page is a step in time, sometimes a generation and sometimes hundreds of years. Any kid, not for the beginners, who is interested in history will enjoy this.

This was a fascinating read. There is also lots of small print you can read or not with the text.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the city of Pompeii, that tragic day in 79 AD tends to get all the attention, with no one paying any attention to the before or after.

This book covers the centuries before and after the explosion, from early farmer settlers to today’s tourists. I really liked learning the history of Pompeii beyond just that one snapshot of one day.

An excellent history picture book – yes, its presented as for children, but I’d say it’s a good introduction for any person who wants to learn more about Pompeii beyond 79 AD.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of times when people think of Pompeii in history, they just think of the when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in at buried the city in 79 AD. This timeline history book shows the history of Pompeii through primarily focusing a small group of houses/small area of the city (in mostly overhead or street views) from the 920 BC eruption through the year 2000 AD (intended to be modern day). Pompeii was settled in the 500s BC and the book traces the history of the city which also traces the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, where Pompeii was located. The book begins with a timeline and focuses on significant events in the city's history. Each event has a giant couple page illustration with inset facts that aren't overwhelming and do a lot to explain some of the details in the illustration. I learned that Pompeii was attacked by Romans in 89 BC, devastating to the inhabitants but involved the city really becoming part of the Roman Republic. It was fascinating to learn these lesser known parts of Pompeii's history, to see the city get buried in the eruption, and finally be discovered centuries later. The book also contains a glossary of terms that may be unfamiliar to young readers.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This recreation of Roman life traces the rise and fall of a great empire. For classical purposes it is also a tale of discovery and revelation that tracks the extraordinary archaeological work involved in unearthing and interpreting Pompeii's remains.
It covers the life of its people, its conflicts and disasters, and the changing fortunes of a house at the center of it all. Beginning in the sixth century BC, a simple hut becomes a farmhouse, and gradually the farmhouse is swallowed up by the expanding new city of Pompeii. Through this is the story of the growth and destruction of a house, a city, and an empire, yourn child will see the fall of Pompeii.

[Duane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to show young readers who are interested in the past. The illustrations are amazing and will entertain readers for hours. Following the beginning of a great city, you'll travel through time as it builds up, is torn down and ultimately is destroyed. A great resource book for young readers.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice pictures depicting the town over time. Good for study of Pompeii and also Roman Empire. However, there could have been a bit more information about the day of the volcanic eruption rather than simply a 2-page spread.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives a great overview of how the city developed. I love this kind of book!

[Jingqiu Chen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar style as A Street Through Time. Good reading material after seeing the Pompeii Exhibit.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the way this one is presented for understanding the before (all the way to 750BCE) and after.