Echoes of Ash: Life in Herculaneum

by Adrian Murdoch

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.

• Essential reading for fans of Pompeii

• Herculaneum receives 300,000 visitors every year and is one of Italy's top ten tourist destinations, yet it has been overshadowed by Pompeii in popular history – until now

• Based on the latest archaeological research and discoveries, Adrian Murdoch explores the ancient Roman town to bring the ancient world to life

• Herculaneum's unrivalled preservation gives us a unique glimpse into Roman life

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.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Academic, Ancient History

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2026

Reviews

[Lottie Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a fascinating and beautifully structured look at the ancient town of Herculaneum and the people who lived there before the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.

What I found especially moving is the way Murdoch organises the book. Each chapter begins with the story of an individual discovered in the ruins, figures like the Ring Lady or the Boxer, and uses their remains and possessions as a starting point to explore a wider aspect of life in Herculaneum. From there he expands topics like social status, daily routines, family life, wealth, slavery, and death, grounded in the archaeological evidence uncovered at the site.

It makes the history feel incredibly human. Instead of just reading about buildings and artefacts, you’re constantly reminded that these were real people with lives, relationships, and identities that we can still glimpse through what they left behind.

For anyone interested in Herculaneum, Pompeii, or Roman history more broadly, this feels like the perfect companion to the site. It’s engaging, accessible, and full of details that make the ancient world feel vividly alive.

Thank you to The History Press for sending me a copy of this book. I am very grateful as always :)

[Sarah Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Herculaneum: the less romanticised sister of Pompeii and a lost world. Though eclipsed by its sibling, it too became buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. While Pompeii was bruised and battered by falling stones, Herculaneum was embraced by a slow and suffocating wave of volcanic mud. The pyroclastic river didn’t just destroy; it sealed the thriving town in a frighteningly dark, airtight cocoon. Protecting the most delicate threads of Roman life. Finally Herculaneum, named after the mythical Heracles, is getting its moment 🏛️🌋

Thank you Adrian for bringing Herculaneum to our imagination and for bringing us closer to the people who made up its fabric. It certainly was a melting pot of Ancient cultures and beliefs, and I was amazed to find that Egyptian influence found its way into this part of civilisation. Two Ancient powerhouses amalgamating. Through this excellent examination of an overlooked town, it is vivid enough to make you forget twenty centuries have passed ✨

What’s left are the charred remains of doors that swung shut for the last time two thousand years ago. Lalaria ( intimate shrines dedicated to household Gods) found in more than half of the town’s ruined houses. Skeletons of those who huddled together, clutching their jewelry, coins and charms. A helpless woman flung onto the beach which is absolutely harrowing.

I’ve been completely moved by the series of hauntingly personal portraits throughout this book. A fisherman, a slave, a Flautist, Isis worshipping women and the famous ring lady to name a few. Thanks to Adrian’s amazing research, we begin to see the physical toll of Roman life ( particularly the “Short woman” who was found to have rickets and lived a laborious life) not just through their bones but through the buildings they inhabited and the objects they touched. He carefully peels back layers of ash and myth to reveal the vibrant, colorful reality beneath. There is so much more to it than meet’s the eye. Herculaneum feels less like a skeleton and more like a body that has kept most of its skin ✨

[Diarmuid Angland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book. It starts each chapter with a victim of the eruption and explores part of the site using that class/background as the key.

This book really unlocks Herculaneum as a site and maybe in a better way than Pompeii shows what a typical roman city was like.

As I was readying I was thinking ‘god this is a great guide book but could do with a suggested itinerary’ and then in the end of the book I find it.

Also an excellent glossary of Roman rooms names which is very useful.

The pictures were great, though there could have been more, and a better map or even a few building layouts would have really enhanced this.

This is the perfect book to read before, and to bring with you on, a trip to Herculaneum.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars