The Lost Voices of Pompeii: Life and Death on Pompeii's Final Day

by Jess Venner

Award-winning ancient historian, archeologist, and social media sensation Dr. Jess Venner (@lifeinthepastlane_) brings the citizens of Pompeii back to life through a vibrant account of their final day before Mt. Vesuvius’s eruption.

While the ruins of Pompeii still stand today, silent and perfectly preserved in ash and stone, they were once home to thousands of people whose lives were forever altered—or cut short—in the wake of Mt. Vesuvius. Through extensive research and vivid storytelling, leading expert Dr. Jess Venner goes beyond the devastation and shows a community teeming with art, customs, and culture.

The Lost Voices of Pompeii follows ordinary citizens on what should have been an ordinary Petrinus, a slave, hopes to purchase his freedom; the recently elected Gaius Cuspius Pansa seeks to cement his legacy as a generous public servant; and the shrewd merchant Aulus Umbricius Scaurus and ambitious innkeeper Euxinus each devise ways to expand their growing businesses.

Meanwhile, Julia Felix, a female entrepreneur, prepares to host the Cult of Isis and its mesmerizing priest Amisusius, and freedwoman turned businesswoman Umbricia Fortunata and her husband Lucius work to secure a better future for their children.

Pompeii’s story is often reduced to the scope of its tragedy, but Dr. Venner brings our attention back to the individuals. As the citizens’ paths weave together and apart, leading up to the final, fateful moment, they capture a civilization rich in history, traditions, and aspirations.

A profound and immersive experience, The Lost Voices of Pompeii revives a people often overshadowed by death and destruction and tells a poignant tale of humanity and resilience.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Italy, Ancient History, Audiobook, Ancient

368 pages, Hardcover

First published May 12, 2026

Reviews

[LPosse1 Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fresh Voice from the Ashes

Many books tell us how Pompeii died. Dr. Jess Venner reminds us how Pompeii lived.

The Lost Voices of Pompeii: Life and Death on Pompeii’s Final Day is one of the most engaging and innovative books I have read about Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Like many history enthusiasts, I’ve read several books on the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. Most focus on the catastrophe itself—the ash, the destruction, and the tragedy. Dr. Venner takes a different approach. Rather than concentrating solely on how Pompeii died, she helps us understand how Pompeii lived.

Using an innovative technique she describes as evidence-based storytelling, Dr. Venner blends meticulous archaeological research with carefully constructed narrative reconstructions. The result is neither dry academic history nor historical fiction. Instead, it is a vivid, deeply human portrait of a Roman community during its final day.

Through the lives of seven individuals whose names are preserved in the archaeological record, we meet freed slaves, entrepreneurs, merchants, politicians, innkeepers, and religious leaders. Figures such as Julia Felix, the independent businesswoman; Petrinus, a newly freed slave searching for opportunity; and Gaius Cuspius Pansa, a politician seeking public favor, transform Pompeii from a collection of ruins into a living, breathing city.

What impressed me most was how much I learned beyond the eruption itself. Dr. Venner offers fascinating insights into daily life, religion, politics, commerce, social mobility, and the complex relationships that shaped Roman society. Despite having read numerous books on Pompeii, I came away with a deeper understanding of the people who called the city home than ever before.

Another aspect of the book I particularly appreciated was Dr. Venner’s explanation of the geology of the eruption itself. Pompeii suffered a double catastrophe. First came hours of falling pumice and ash, which accumulated to depths of six to nine meters in some areas, collapsing roofs and burying much of the city. Then came multiple waves of superheated pyroclastic surges—the terrifying nuées ardentes—racing down the slopes of Vesuvius at tremendous speeds and temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Those who survived the initial bombardment often faced an even deadlier fate when these clouds engulfed the city. The horrific circumstances help explain why so many victims were preserved in such extraordinary detail. Herculaneum, meanwhile, suffered its own unique devastation from dense pyroclastic deposits and volcanic mudflows. Dr. Venner presents this science in a way that is both accessible and fascinating.

One unexpected pleasure was gaining a deeper understanding of the Cult of Isis, which played an important role in Pompeian religious life. Through Dr. Venner’s exploration of the temple, its priests, and its followers, I came away with a far richer appreciation for this fascinating religious tradition and its appeal throughout the Roman world. As a longtime Bob Dylan fan, I even found myself thinking differently about Dylan’s classic song Isis from his Desire album. Good history often illuminates unexpected corners of our lives and culture, and Dr. Venner’s book does exactly that.

One of the book’s greatest accomplishments is that it creates genuine suspense despite the fact that every reader already knows the ending. We know what happened when Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE. We know Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed. Yet Dr. Venner’s storytelling is so immersive and her characters so richly drawn that I found myself turning pages with a sense of anticipation and concern for people whose fate was sealed nearly two thousand years ago. The mark of a great historian and storyteller is making readers care deeply about an ending they already know. Dr. Venner accomplishes exactly that.

Dr. Venner is clearly an exciting new voice in the field of Roman history and archaeology. Knowing that she was mentored by Mary Beard makes perfect sense. There is a similar creativity and willingness to challenge traditional approaches, yet Dr. Venner’s voice remains entirely her own.

The greatest achievement of The Lost Voices of Pompeii is that it reminds us that history is ultimately about people. Before Pompeii became a tragedy, it was a community filled with dreams, ambitions, businesses, families, faith, and everyday routines. Dr. Venner brings those lost voices back to life with remarkable skill, scholarship, and compassion.

For readers interested in Ancient Rome, archaeology, or simply great storytelling grounded in solid scholarship, this book is an easy five-star recommendation. Audiobook- thanks Northern Illinois Library Consortium! And hard cover (Bookend and Beginnings Evanston, Illinois). Dig a little deeper- Dr. Venner is on the forefront of the latest discoveries at Herculaneum. https://substack.com/@lposse1/note/c-...

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to go backwards, and look this book up again online to make sure this was marketed as non-fiction. Why? I don't know. Maybe the publisher doesn't know the difference between historical fiction and non-fiction. If thus had been marketed as historical fiction, I would have rated this a five-star. I think it would be interesting if someone who knows the history of Pompeii could shift through and tell me if the historical facts line up correctly, but because this is historical fiction, and not non-fiction, I can't even go off of any facts listed in the book. Don't feel like fact-checking the book, though. As a non-fiction book, it's actually a zero, because I can't trust the information. As a historical fiction book, it's a five, so I settled on a three.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

[kaitlyn]

dnf :(

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Mudlark for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

This was another victim of my "I have no work, therefore I have no money and have to cancel some pre-orders" spree, and so I was so excited to be sent an a-arc.

I have climbed Mount Vesuvius (back when I could walk and wasn't in a wheelchair) and have been to Pompeii - although I became very unwell halfway through and spent the second half of the tour sightseeing in the Pompeii bathrooms. But it was interesting just the same. I wish I'd gone to Herculaneum too, which was also a victim of the eruption, but you could only do the trip to Vesuvius with Pompeii and I really wanted to do Vesuvius. I think I need to go back to Pompeii on a day where I'm not poorly.

The introduction itself was enough for me to know this would be a special book. The passion Jess has for learning, education, history, and wanting to share the stories of 'forgotten' people is so moving. I love learning and she really hit the nail on the head when it comes to the importance of learning. It was such an inspiring opening.

I was always a bit of a history buff (and to this day I regret not continuing with it in my studies) and I am very interesting in the ancient world and so this was endlessly fascinating to me. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future books to satisfy my nerdy cravings.

It's fascinating because she's written a non-fiction and a fiction in one. The opening sets up at the factual, historical side. And then each chapter is about a person or persons living in Pompeii at that time. She has used evidence to back her stories up, but there are imagined elements that help put all those pieces together, and I found that such an interesting and remarkable method to tell these stories.

Each story is its own story, but they're also linked which I liked, because this is what a community would have done. It helps add the humanity to it. Some stories I liked more than others, which isn't surprising when it comes to short stories, but overall they all bring something special to the book.

While this is a book about Pompeii, I appreciate her words about Herculaneum. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe actually about 80-90% of Pompeii citizens were able to evacuate before the crux of the eruption, but only about 10% of Herculaneums did. So why don't they get the historical attention?

What I wasn't expecting from a book advertised as a non-fiction was it to be so moving. I mean, I know what happened to the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum, it's nothing new. But it's true, we only know them as numbers of dead people. We forget they were real people with friends, families, jobs, children, pets etc. and so the bits she writes about the moment of impact is so moving that I found myself with watery eyes at times. I wanted to step in and save these fictional people almost 2,000 years old.

As a self-confessed member of the nerd species, I loved it, and I highly recommend it to nerds and non-nerds alike. I am generally not someone who buys a physical copy of a book if I'd read it on the Kindle, but this may be an exception.

[Keighley · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were a couple of things that drew me to this book: my love of Roman archaeology and my fascination with Pompeii. Having been lucky enough to visit several times - most recently in January this year - I knew I had to read it.

This is a fantastic book. While the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD is undeniably tragic, the book captures those final days vividly. It also highlights how fortunate we are that sites like Pompeii have been so well preserved, allowing us to learn so much about everyday Roman life.

Although it’s a work of fiction, the story follows seven individuals who could easily have lived in Pompeii at the time. The use of real names drawn from archaeological evidence, along with references to actual buildings, makes each narrative feel authentic. At times, it genuinely felt like I was walking the streets alongside them, seeing what they saw.

The illustrations included in the book - depicting scenes that still exist in Pompeii - add an extra layer of immersion. Combined with the author’s clear depth of research, it makes for a highly engaging read. I even learned quite a bit along the way (particularly about some Roman eating habits, which sparked interesting conversations at work!).

Overall, this is a captivating and well-researched book. I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested in Roman history, Pompeii, or historical fiction.

[Zara Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tricky one to review for me. On one hand it was fascinating, loved the glimpse into how people may have lived, their daily lives and routines and how they interacted. But. On the other hand, I did find it to be quite repetitive and sluggish at times. My one thing that I really wished for was the photos to have been in colour because the details were lost due to them being in black and white sadly. Overall though, I feel like I learned a lot through reading this!

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

In AD79 Pompeii, a thriving city near the Bay of Naples in Italy, was devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius which caused both earthquakes & the city to be buried under meters of volcanic ash. Dr Venner here recreates the possible lives of some of Pompeii's inhabitants the day before the eruption, from a slave shopping for that evening's feast for his master, to a typical day for a priest of the goddess Isis.

I have visited Pompeii & Roman history is one of my favourite subjects to read & learn about, so requesting this was a no-brainer. In this nonfiction/fiction hybrid, Venner uses the literary device of 'critical fabulation' which combines historical fact & evidence with fictional imagining to recreate a lost world. Or in this case, lost city. It mostly works to excellent effect here & I liked the little touch of characters from previous stories appearing as peripheral characters in the later ones so that everyone's stories eventually dovetailed together.

It was cleverly done, although in one or two cases the story went on for just a little bit too long. Minor quibble though, & overall I really enjoyed reading about the different characters whose imagined personal stories brought the past to life. I also appreciated the footnotes linking various aspects of the story to archaeological evidence from the advertisements graffitied on the walls of Pompeii to the remnants of the gardens there.

So this was a definite hit with me & I am not at all jealous that the author got to spend so much time studying Pompeii & also working at the British School in Rome. Nope, not jealous at all. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Roman history. 4.5 stars (rounded up)

SUMMARY:
Research: Excellent - I appreciated the footnotes linking various aspects of the story to archaeological evidence.
Writing Style: Very Good - The critical fabulations was cleverly done, although in one or two cases the story went on for just a little bit too long.
Enjoyment Level: High - This was a definite hit with me & I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Roman history.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, HarperCollins UK/Mudlark, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

TWs: Child death, animal death, adult/minor relationships.

[Jamilah Green | Apothecary Tales Press · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Voices of Pompeii opens with Dr. Venner’s personal entry point into Roman history and Pompeii research, and that framing pulled me in immediately. Her research is extensive, and the historical foundation gives the book real weight. There are sections where the book leans more toward historical fiction than creative nonfiction, especially in the dialogue and dramatized scenes. Readers who enjoys narrative history with a strong storytelling feel will appreciate that approach; those looking for strictly sourced nonfiction may find the shift unexpected. What stood out most for me was the attention to voices across Pompeii’s social classes. By weaving in perspectives from the enslaved, the working class, and the elite, Venner offers a layered look at a moment in history many of us think we already understand. It’s a reminder that history isn’t one-dimensional, and that a fuller picture requires hearing from every level of society. A worthwhile addition for collections supporting readers of narrative history, hybrid nonfiction, and inclusive approaches to the ancient world.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Alice Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving and impressively well researched.

[Lottie Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished The Lost Voices of Pompeii and I’m genuinely blown away. From the very first page, you’re transported into the heart of Pompeii, not as a distant observer, but as someone walking its streets, hearing its stories, and feeling the lives of the people who once called it home.

What really stayed with me is how beautifully the book balances deep research with emotional storytelling. It’s not just facts, the book gives a voice to those who were lost, weaving together fragments of history into something vivid and human. You can almost feel the rhythm of daily life, the hopes, fears, and ordinary moments that make the tragedy all the more powerful.

If you love history that feels alive, and want to read more about Pompeii as more of a story than a book of facts, this is a must to pick up!

Thank you Harper Collins for gifting this book to me! I am so grateful.

[Nicola Stott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating!

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Voices of Pompeii by Dr. Jess Venner picks a few known Pompeiian residents (and conjures up a couple others) to paint a picture of how all levels of society might have responded to and coped with that final earthquake and subsequent volcanic eruption that buried Pompeii (and Herculaneum! No flowers for Herculaneum; Pompeii always gets the scrutiny!). A slave, a businesswoman, a priest, a politician—they all witness the devastation first hand, and there are others besides! There are also some pictures to help supplement the text.

Negative thought:

-It CAN be a bit repetitive. Some portions are redone through other people’s eyes, and as a reader, I’m wanting to get on to the eruption.

Mixed thought:

~This is marketed in a way that will not do it service. Biographies & Memoirs, History, Nonfiction (Adult) is what pops up for Netgalley. The problem is that this is really historical fiction. There is no evidence for what happened to any of the people the author has listed; presumably they probably all died, especially the more wealthy and well-known ones, like Scaurus. She has them interact and gave them desires (some laudable, like Julia Felix, some detestable, like Pansa). People are going to be coming into this wanting a straight biography and are going to get mad about the suppositions, and there are people who crave historical fiction but will detour away from it thinking it’s just pure fact. I understand the author’s explained her reasoning at the beginning, but I’m saying now that it’s going to confuse readers and make them angry.

Positive thoughts:

+ The author did a good job of infusing the chapters with historical detail—I recognised some graffiti, for example—as well as delving into day-to-day life to remind readers that these were just people going about their lives without any inkling of the tragedy and devastation that loomed over them. They worked as slaves, oversaw their business of garum, enjoyed time watching gladiators, gathered together at feasts with friends, family, and neighbours, and laughed and talked and visited with one another before the eruption wiped it all away.

+ Foreshadowing ripples through the text, one example being “[t]oday’s hero might be nothing more than a memory tomorrow, removed from the world of the living by forces far greater than himself”. It makes the snippets of stories all the more absorbing to read, especially when remembering that at least a few of the mentioned were known and recognised figures in Pompeii.

+ I enjoyed the weaving of the characters into each story, where one plays a minor part before having their own tale to tell. Yes, yes, I know I complained about the repetitiveness, but when it didn’t trod over old ground, it was fun.

I recommend this for people who like historical fiction: again, do NOT pick this up thinking it will be a collection of facts on Pompeii; the author has done a fine job making Pompeii come alive again, and you can tell she really cares for her subject, which is always a delight.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting take on the last few days in Pompeii and a reminder that we are all just human

[Sue Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book as the author bring to life the lost people of Pompeii.

[Chrissie Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up as part of a readalong with Tandem Collective, and honestly, I wasn’t sure how I’d get on with it. It’s the first non fiction book I’ve read in a long time, and I fully expected it to take me ages or feel a bit heavy. It did take me longer than a typical fiction read, but I ended up being completely absorbed by it.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Pompeii, and it’s one of those places that just stays with you. Walking through the ruins feels almost surreal. It’s quiet, but at the same time you can almost hear echoes of what it once was. This book brought all of that back for me, but in a much deeper way. It didn’t just show me the place again, it made me feel the people.

What really stood out to me was how Venner tells the story through the final 24 hours of seven individuals. Not famous names, not the people history usually focuses on, but ordinary people living their everyday lives. That’s what made it so powerful. It takes something we already know the ending to, and somehow makes it feel personal. You’re not just reading about an eruption, you’re seeing a city full of life, routine, relationships and humanity right up until the very end.

It completely changed how I think about Pompeii. It’s so easy to see it as a tragic ruin, something frozen in time. But this book reminds you that it was once a busy, vibrant city full of real people with real lives. That emotional connection made all the difference for me.

It never felt like I was just reading facts. Everything was grounded in archaeology and real evidence, but it was written in such a way that it felt immersive and human rather than academic or distant. I learned so much without it ever feeling like hard work.

I genuinely can’t fault this. It’s fascinating, emotional, and incredibly well done. An easy five stars for me, and a reminder that history hits so much harder when you remember the people at the centre of it.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

First of all, the prologue is so inspiring. Venner talks about taking the leap to change paths and study an MA in Classical Civilisations despite being a fellow state school baddie with no prior education in the subject, and her story brought tears to my eyes. Venner is proof that no matter what stage you are at in life, if you want something and work hard enough, you can go and get it! Encouraged by Mary Beard after sending her a letter, I adore that Mary is a common inspiration of my favourite non-fiction authors and holds out a hand for others rather than gatekeeping.

Perfect for seasoned readers of non-fiction and those wanting to dip their toes into the genre, Dr Jess Venner uses ‘critical fabulation’ to construct the lives of seven real people who met their fate in 79 AD Pompeii through a series of short stories. I loved the use of this technique as while it’s based on real archeological evidence, it adds an immersion and layer of emotion that you don’t often get from non-fiction. The ancient world can feel so very far away and detached from our reality, but this technique serves as a reminder that these were living and breathing human beings just as we are.

[Karen Kingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

AD PR Product

Thrilled to be sharing my review for The Lost Voices of Pompeii by @lifeinthepastlane_ @harpercollinsuk thanks to @tandemcollectiveuk

In 1999, @sk_xh558 and I visited Pompeii for the afternoon after visiting a museum in Naples first. The visit was fascinating and I’ve shared some photos here alongside images of the book.

We were lucky to have an excellent tour guide during our visit, but this stunning book goes much further. We are introduced to seven main characters based on the real people known to be living in Pompeii in 79CE.

The Slave - Petrinus
The Businesswoman - Julia Felix
The Everyman - Scarus
The Working Poor Family - Fortunata
The Innkeeper- Euxinus
The Priest of ISIS - Amisusius
The Politician - Pansa

Dr Jess Venner has woven the historical evidence beautifully with her skill as a storyteller to help the reader understand what life was like for the different groups of people in Pompeii. The level of detail is fascinating (and sometimes gruesome, or for those of us who work in education a modern safeguarding issue).

When visiting Pompeii, I never questioned how people would have been able to see in the dark travelling to the amphitheatre or what life was like for the ordinary people. Although the book looks at the aftermath of the eruption, it reminds us of what life was like in a town that had been repeatedly invaded and rebuilt, with a mixture of old and new traditions.

A stunning book, that deserves more than five stars. I now need to go back and visit again, to see the more recent excavations and to visit the areas brought to life in this book.
#bookreview #bookstagrammer #mudlarkbooks #drjessvenner #thelostvoicesofpompeii

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a fantastic example of the power of non-fiction storytelling!

I'm fascinated by Pompeii, and even more so since reading The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper. This takes a closer look at the history behind those stories, and the final days of the people who lived in Pompeii, irrespective of social class. I thought Dr Venner brought an intelligent and insightful perspective which demonstrated her understanding of ancient societies,  including its distinctions from our own sensibilities. There was a great focus on the harsh truth of Pompeiian life, and the dichotomy of its cruel systems of slavery, and the city's enduring intrigue for people in the modern day.

Non-fiction can sometimes be a difficult genre for me - I use it more for study than entertainment! But this brings the stories to life in a way that blurs the boundaries between the genres, making it both interesting and highly informative. Dr Venner brings these histories to life. I can't wait to see what she writes next!

Books with a similar vibe - Mythica by Emily Hauser, Mythos by Stephen Fry, The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker, and The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though not quite what I was expecting, still interesting. Reads more like an interconnected collection of short fiction pieces set within Pompeii, with two nonfiction pieces at the beginning and ending to give context.

[AltLovesBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoiler alert: the volcano wins.

Remember those history and/or social studies textbooks you had to read as a kid, the ones that had little sidebars of "day in the life of" mini stories that pretended to be fictional, but were really a vehicle for facts to regurgitate on your next test? This really felt a lot like that, but like, a whole book's worth.

This book follows several different citizens of Pompeii on their (unbeknownst to them) last day. The author does a good job of selecting different positions of society to create her characters from, which are themselves cut either whole cloth or pieced together from what I gather were actual people in Pompeii at the time of the disaster. There's a wide variety of viewpoints here, from privileged politician to freed slave, which is nice to see. But because the book is so fact-forward, none of it really feels like a true fiction book, and there's no real character development or plot beyond what we know is about to happen.

It's not a bad book, but don't expect to spend enough time with any of these characters long enough to feel much for them when the inevitable happens.

[Jessica Miller]

DNF at page 123 for now - I love Roman history and I like the idea of telling a day in the life of an average pompeiian but I’m just not enjoying this style.

Thank you to author Dr. Jess Venner, Harper Collin’s publishers, and Goodreads for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

It was interesting to see someone actually in the field use what's known so far about Pompeii to make (very very) educated guesses at what a day in the life might look like for these people (some are real, some are composites). But just know going in that the entire book is made up of these "critical fabulation" vignettes except for the intro/outro.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly thank you to @harpernonfiction for reaching out to send me this book! I found using the audiobook alongside it pretty good….. it was read by the author!
Publisher - @harpernonfiction
release date - April 2026 ( out now!)
Author @lifeinthepastlane_
official blurb - We all know how the people of Pompeii died. But what about how they lived?
In 24 hours, Pompeii will vanish.
The morning of the eruption was a day like any other. Julia Felix opens her tavern for another day of business, defying every convention that says a woman can’t succeed alone. Petrinus, newly freed from slavery, wrestles with an impossible decision about his future. Politician Gaius Cuspius Pansa prepares to host the Plebian Games, a spectacle that will cement his power forever.
In 24 hours, seven lives will change forever.
Drawing on the latest archaeological discoveries, Dr Jess Venner brings the ancient streets to life through the eyes of those who lived, worked, loved and ultimately met their fate in Pompeii. Here is a community more complex, diverse and human than we ever imagined.
Pompeii is remembered for its destruction, but here we discover the vibrant lives that came before. Richly evocative and immersive, The Lost Voices of Pompeii vividly recreates the final twenty-four hours before the eruption, reminding us exactly what – and who – was lost in 79 AD.
This is the story of everything, and everyone, that was lost.

My thoughts - The author uses historical facts to bring to life people who lived and breathed in Pompeii. What she did was so clever and the characters well…… the slave broke my heart, the way they sold people like objects and how they were portrayed and spoken about was upsetting. Some of the things the people of Pompeii ate had me cringing 😬 This book was exceptionally well written. I loved history back at school and it still interests me hugely, I would not usually read about it but in doing so, learnt a lot. The sheer temperature and entire human experience of this natural disaster was frankly, shocking! The people must have been terrified. If history is your thing I would highly recommend! #bookreview #bookworm #pompeii

[Marcus Hobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jess Venner is passionate about bringing the past to life and making it accessible to everyone. She is also a doctor of Ancient History at the University of Oxford and has worked as an archaeologist in Italy and especially Pompeii. For her doctorate she specialised in the urban gardens of Pompeii and their role in the city’s economy, diet and social organisation. I discovered this last fact after I read the book and it makes perfect sense because what I read had a real focus on the gardens – one of the features I loved.
The Lost Voices of Pompeii is a marvellous book, and very unique. We have all heard stories about the end of Pompeii as Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79CE. The sky went dark and hot pumice began to rain down on the city creating terror among the inhabitants. This new book picks seven distinct people and dips into their lives in the days immediately before the eruption. These are not fictional people, but real characters that we can name because of what the archaeology has revealed to us. In some cases we know the exact location of their home and what decorations were on the walls of all their rooms. The other unique feature of this book is that Jess Venner also depicts a slave as one of her characters. This is a layer of Roman life that is almost invisible, but Jenner does a great job noticing all the small things they do. In her chapter about a wealthy family, slaves are there first thing in the morning with food, then they dress their master and mistress, they tie their leather sandals and they apply cosmetics to the face of the lady of the house and curl her hair. Everyday personal and domestic activities are all done for you. By cleverly blending images and information from Pompeii with various written sources from the Roman Empire, Venner creates an incredibly realistic story.
The seven people are the slave, a wealthy businesswoman, an ‘everyman’, a working poor family, an innkeeper, a priest of Isis, and a wealthy politician. Their stories, while separate, also interconnect at various points. The slave belongs to the wealthy politician, while the working poor family work for the everyman, and the priest performs a ritual at the house of the politician. This overlap really helps to bring the narrative alive.

The book contains a wealth of footnotes, but not too many to interrupt the flow. From these you can learn many lesser known facts. For example, I never knew that the Roman day was divided into 12 variable length hours between sunrise and sunset. These stretched or shrank with the seasons, but you always got twelve hours of daylight.

I have to talk about the gardens and the food included in the stories. The city of Pompeii had suffered before and 17 years before Vesuvius erupted there had been large earthquakes that damaged much of the city. Some buildings were rebuilt, but others were left abandoned and numerous smallholdings of vegetables, herbs, olives, figs and grape vines were planted. These open spaces were often enclosed by high walls, useful to keep thieves out. Pieces of broken clay amphora were set into the tops of the walls to deter thieves, much as we still do with broken glass today.
Some small vineyards were attached to inns, where in one case a special outdoor seating area had been created overlooking the vines. All these small details add so much texture to the narrative.
During the eruption trees and vines were surrounded by pumice and ash and as the roots decayed over the following years they left a space in the volcanic matter. Excavators filled these gaps with plaster of Paris and were able to date the trees by the size of the trunks and roots. Many were planted after the earthquakes.
There are many descriptions of the types of food eaten during the day; lots of cheese, fish and nuts. A small pig is roasted. There were exotic imports such as pomegranates and dates. There were also lots of herbs and spices used for flavouring. The everyman character ran his own empire making different types of fish sauce made from fermented mackerel and anchovies. One sauce was very exclusive, others were more watered down and affordable. The everyman was obviously successful, because amphora with his name have been found in Rome and right across the Roman Empire. Once his seven workshops in Pompeii were lost, there was probably no chance of him restarting his business.

The book is richly illustrated with black and white photos, and these brilliantly bring the stories to life, showing a fresco that is described or a scene of a banquet. One of these is a female banqueting scene, showing that this was not just a male pastime. The wealthy businesswoman character was the owner of a large house complex with its own bath house and apartments that were rented. Using this character helps us see the roles of women at the time and also that it was possible to circumvent some of the (male) rules. Women could not become politicians, but they could certainly become wealthy.
We also see a little of how cosmopolitan Pompeii was, with the strong presence of the cult of the Egyptian goddess Isis. She seemed to coexist easily alongside the Roman gods. Venner notes “Women found her a goddess who understood their lives: a mother, a mourner, and a protector all at once.” Various shrines to Isis were found in private houses and the was a large public temple in the centre of town.

One of the great things about Pompeii is that it is still giving us more. Only about two-thirds of the city has been excavated for the now rock-hard pumice and ash. In a discovery reported a couple of years ago a whole new room of frescos had been discovered where the walls were painted black and there were no windows. I remember thinking how dark it must have been, even with the brightly coloured figures. Venner’s book told me that one of the reasons for these dark walls was because all the burning lamps would have quickly left soot marks across lighter colours.

This is a fascinating book which brings both the city and its individual population to life. It is a very easy read and you will learn something new on every page. It is impossible not to make comparisons with modern life, and note, for example that the public walls of Pompeii were full of graffiti, from political slogans, insults, details of loans and interest, right down to directions and curses. Some were crudely scrawled, others painted paid professionals. Everything is fascinating in The Lost Voices of Pompeii.

[Jessica Brainard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Voices of Pompeii: Life and Death on Pompeii’s Final Day by Dr. Jess Venner is a compelling and deeply humanizing addition to the vast literature on the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius. As Dr. Venner's debut book (released in April 2026 by HarperCollins), it stands out not as a dry academic treatise but as an immersive, narrative-driven exploration that breathes life into the people often reduced to plaster casts and tragic footnotes.Venner, an Oxford-based ancient historian and archaeologist specializing in Pompeii (with expertise in urban agriculture, post-earthquake resilience, and everyday Roman life), structures the book around the final 24 hours of the city through the eyes of seven diverse, real historical figures. Readers follow characters like Petrinus (a slave aspiring to freedom), Julia Felix (a prominent businesswoman), and others from various social strata—slaves, freedpeople, merchants, and more—as they go about what begins as an ordinary day in a bustling, vibrant Roman town. The narrative weaves their personal hopes, routines, relationships, and small dramas against the mounting signs of impending catastrophe, drawing on the latest archaeological evidence, inscriptions, artifacts, and scientific reconstructions.What makes this book particularly effective is Venner's skill in balancing rigorous scholarship with accessible, evocative storytelling. She avoids sensationalizing the disaster itself—instead, the focus remains on what was lost: not just buildings and bodies, but entire lives, dreams, and communities. The prose is vivid and richly descriptive, transporting readers to the noisy streets, fragrant gardens, busy taverns, and domestic spaces of Pompeii. By humanizing these individuals, Venner reminds us that the tragedy was profoundly personal, a poignant counterpoint to the more common focus on destruction and preservation.The book excels in its use of recent discoveries and interdisciplinary insights (from archaeobotany to spatial analysis) to paint a dynamic picture of a resilient, adaptive city still recovering from the AD 62 earthquake. Venner's background shines through in details that feel fresh and authoritative—opportunistic gardens springing up in repurposed spaces, commercial adaptations, and the everyday textures of non-elite life—without overwhelming the reader with jargon.For anyone fascinated by Pompeii, Roman history, or simply the power of narrative nonfiction, this is a standout read. It joins works like Mary Beard's Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town or Robert Harris's Pompeii but carves its own niche by prioritizing voices over volcanoes. It's both educational and emotionally resonant, leaving readers with a renewed appreciation for the humanity buried beneath the ash.Highly recommended—especially for those seeking a more intimate, character-centered perspective on one of history's most famous disasters. A strong 4.5 out of 5 stars for its originality, empathy, and scholarly depth wrapped in engaging prose. Pre-order or grab a copy; it's a worthy addition to any history enthusiast's shelf.

[cosylittlereadingcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The eruption of Vesuvius, one of the deadliest in history, consumed the city in less than 24 hours, silencing its streets and sealing his hopes, fears and ambitions beneath 6m of volcanic material. On that day, the people of Pompeii achieved the immortality they had long sought, but not in a way they could ever have imagined.”

As you read this quote from Jess’ book, images of Pompeii might pop into your mind. But I guarantee that they are of ruins and abandoned streets. I’d like to start by saying that this book is the absolute opposite of that. Instead of the absence of life, you see and hear life as it would have been in Pompeii before that infamous eruption!

This book is just absolutely incredible!

Imagine reading a non fiction book that reads like a novel. Where not only is it easy to turn the pages but where your mind is filled with the characters within it, characters you get to know by the end of the book. This is such book, which I think is so hard to achieve when writing a non fiction book. Often they’re clunky in the way they try to present facts and data, this is anything but!

At the start of the book, Jess gives us a short insight into Pompeii’s history and how it came to be part of the Roman Empire and then we meet seven individuals from different parts of the society and see how their final day in Pompeii enfolded. We see their paths cross and their reoccurrence in each other’s chapters gives us such a wonderful view, seeing them from different angles in their world.

Through their stories, we learn about everyday lives: people’s diet, how date and time was referenced, the ‘unseen’ presence of slaves and how they toiled away in the background to keep so many things running smoothly, the plants and animals you would have seen around, the thriving workshops, opulent villas and how their frescoes would have been created, funeral traditions and the role and lives of women are all woven into these stories too. We also get an excellent insight into the social hierarchy of the Pompeii of 79CE.

Whilst reading this book, you feel, hear and see Pompeii. The pictures, diagrams and footnotes are all useful extras in helping us build a full understanding of what it would have been like to walk the streets of Pompeii back in the 1st century. The final pages describing the eruption and its aftermath are both heartbreaking and frightening but beautifully and sensitively written.

Finally, what always amazes me about the Roman Empire of that time is how much of our today I can see in their present: from the human interaction in tavernas or quarrels between neighbours, to women using make up or perfume, to enjoying heated water and you will even learn about the very first evidence of “branding” (of fish sauce).

This book is an absolutely stunning recreation of Pompeii in 79CE, bringing the empty ruined streets we see today back to life and teaching us so much about all that was lost so many years ago!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. Potential readers should note the word “storytelling” in the description, as this is not a pure non-fiction work. Dr. Venner uses historical evidence to construct imagined narratives about the lives of several of Pompeii’s inhabitants, and she is very clear about the strengths and weaknesses of “critical fabulation” in the Introduction. What follows is a wholly immersive and enjoyable compendium of stories that serves to educate the reader about the reality of life in Pompeii before, during, and after the eruption of 79 CE. I expected Dr. Venner’s work to be well-researched, and it definitely met this expectation. Her introduction gives important context about the history of Pompeii as a city with a multicultural background still reeling from a major earthquake 17 years prior. She adeptly ties known evidence about locations and items identified in the ruins into her storylines, and helps the reader come to understand what life was like for all walks of life in pre-eruption Pompeii. Her footnotes were extremely helpful in further understanding the facts, but they are not necessary to sufficiently understand the history. More impressive is how well Dr. Venner writes the characters’ stories. She writes compelling, emotional narratives that could have come from a seasoned historical fiction writer, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed her writing. The characters Dr. Venner develops adequately demonstrate the variety of lives lived in an Ancient Roman community and gives the reader an accurate and rather comprehensive view of what life was like for both the upper and lower echelons of society. Her final chapter covering the characters’ fates during the eruption was wrenching, and sent this one from 4.5 to 5 stars for me. I would love to purchase a hard copy of this book so that I can reread it and reference the footnotes easily. I would recommend this for anyone who is a Pompeii geek and wants to hear the stories of the inhabitants in 79 CE from their own perspectives while also learning more facts about life there leading up to the eruption.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lost Voices of Pompeii was a somewhat frustrating book for me. Being eager to learn about life in Pompeii in the days leading up to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, I was excited to read it. Ever since learning about the destruction of the ancient city at some point in school, I had (wrongly) assumed that almost everyone died instantly. My favorite thing about this book was learning what life would have been like back then and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that many people did survive.

I had several problems with this book, starting with its categorization as non-fiction. In the early pages of the book, the author explains that her writing utilizes an evidence-based storytelling style. She calls this “critical fabulation” and explains it to be a methodology that uses what survives in records to expand how history is told. I am a big fan of non-fiction, and count both Erik Larson and Patrick Radden Keefe among my favorite authors. I do not remember previously reading anything called non-fiction and thinking “how could that be”, which I did here. I would have preferred the book to be called a work of fiction, albeit one based on real lives.

The book also distracted me too many times for me to truly enjoy it. I did not keep a pencil and notepad nearby to jot down the definition of every one of the (hundred or more?) italicized words. Each of these words would have been used and understood at that time but had no meaning for me. Sometimes there were two or more in one sentence. I would have loved having a dictionary for these historical terms in the back of the book. As it was, after a while, I quit caring what I was reading.

I congratulate the author on a book that many people will love and rate five-stars. She is clearly passionate about this subject, and I wish her the best of luck. Sadly, this book was not a match for me.

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thanks to Goodreads and William Morrow. The above opinions are my own.

[Sarah Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you HarperCollins for gifting me an early proof of this gorgeous book. The Lost Voices Of Pompeii is an absolute feast and gosh what a labour of love! It just pours with Jess’s usual warmth and Ancient mastery, in a way that had me swept up in the chapters. With careful research, this is a testament to lives richly lived. The last hours in a myriad of worlds.

This is life before the sky darkens, told imaginatively through the eyes of seven fictional characters ( some of them tied to real Pompeiians) who are the backbone of a great city at the mercy of Vesuvius. Small omens and tremors curling serpentine around their everyday lives. We may know the fateful story of 79 AD but do we know the people and living flesh? Now, thanks to this book, they survive both fire and forgetting. The slave, the businesswoman, the family father, the freewoman, the innkeeper, the priest and lastly the politician 🌋

Jess turns her gaze towards the overlooked and unveils the minutiae. Ubiquitous smells of exotic spices, garum (pungent fish sauce, god the fish sauce!) and sunlit honey. Hurried sandals scuffing against stone, the tired paws of Laconian hounds defending doorways, women at the columns of the Palaestra and the swelling heat of the Stabian Baths. Most importantly, the Roman voices lost to history and yet hiding in scraps of surviving inscription as well as excavated ruins. Jess not only has a gift for texture, but an innate ability to restore dignity to those very people who were part of the fabric and who would have placed hope and longing in the margins of their seemingly ordinary days. Her evocation of daily life is truly beautiful and one of her many strengths ✨

Jess’s characters for me, speak across almost two thousand years and I have never felt more connected to them than I am now. It has been a pleasure reading this historic wonder and I’m so excited to visit Pompeii myself in May.

The book is released on 23/4/26 and you need to get your hands on it.

[Christy fictional_traits · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Today, Pompeii is known for how it ended rather than how it lived'.

In October 79 CE, Mt Vesuvius not only erupted, it obliterated the town of Pompeii - so entirely that the once thriving city was buried under metres of ash and pumice and lay dormant for 16 centuries, until excavation finally began. What was uncovered was not only the remains of Pompeii, but a remarkably well preserved time capsule of Roman life. Dr Jess Venner brings this snapshot to life by following six individuals and one family through the 24 hours surrounding the catastrophe.

Walking alongside slaves, freed men and women, merchants, and civic officials gives the narrative a real sense of texture; you’re not just learning about Pompeii, you’re inhabiting it. These figures are either real individuals or composites drawn from names recorded within the city itself, and through their lives we experience the sights, smells, and rhythms of daily life. It’s deeply immersive.

The interwoven connections between individuals help create a cohesive narrative thread across different perspectives. That said, this structure does occasionally lead to some repetitiveness.

One aspect I really appreciated was the use of footnotes for supporting evidence and clarification, as well as interspersing relevant photographs. Keeping these on the page, rather than tucked away at the back, makes it easy to stay engaged while still accessing the scholarship behind the story. It makes a big difference to the reading experience.

Overall, this is a fantastic example of evidence-based storytelling done well. Venner strikes a careful balance between informed speculation and established fact, clearly signalling where interpretations are plausible rather than definitive. It makes the book both accessible to general readers and trustworthy in its handling of history.

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys narrative non-fiction, or even historical fiction, that feels both grounded and alive.

‘Then came the silence. The eerie, absolute stillness that followed the death of the city and everyone left in it’.