Pompeii by Robert Harris will appeal to people interested in water resources, engineering and city infrastructure

Submitted by boxer_dogs_dance t3_z5ggql in books

I thought I would write this up because it's not obvious from the book title. Pompeii by Robert Harris has a main character who is a water engineer in ancient Rome who works on aquaducts. Anyone with an interest in building or engineering, water resources or urban infrastructure will get something out of this book. There is also some information about volcanos and a lot of content about ancient Rome, but that is more obvious from the title. The book was interesting and fun. It's not a masterpiece, but I recommend it. The author was a working journalis for years before becoming an author and can write clear efficient prose.

I'm wondering what other books are out there that are informative about surprising topics.

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Catos_Ghost t1_ixw6u7j wrote

I would also highly recommend his Cicero trilogy. Follows Cicero's career, from his run for the consulship to his eventual death, through the eyes of his slave and secretary Tiro (who also invented shorthand, incidentally, which is probably major reason Cicero is so well remembered in the first place). They're political/legal thrillers that dig deeply into Roman law, the client/patron network, and the politics of late Republican Rome.

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boxer_dogs_dance OP t1_ixwbwqo wrote

I had to do a little digging on Amazon to find the kindle version but it exists and I downloaded it.

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teplightyear t1_ixxmhl9 wrote

Seconded on the recommendation. You're gonna love these. Didn't know about Pompeoi so thanks!

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Lyrical_Forklift t1_ixy91j5 wrote

Check out Fatherland by Harris too. Not quite as educational but a great page turner.

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CanibalCows t1_ixwqinr wrote

Medicus is a great one about a Roman Army doctor who solves mysteries.

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halfback26 t1_ixwd36m wrote

I completely agree. I love the Cicero trilogy.

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Germanofthebored t1_ixwx3nt wrote

I read the first book of the trilogy (so far), and what gets me is that I have no idea where facts and and where literary license starts. Any ideas how accurate the book is? Harris has a couple of other alternate history novels, so I do not completely trust him...

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Catos_Ghost t1_ixx1cde wrote

Like with most historical fiction, I try to take the facts I don't independently know with a grain of salt, assuming most internal thoughts and private conversations (at least) are almost entirely fictionalized.

Luckily, quite a few of Cicero's own writings survive, so I assume a lot of the content is taken from his letters with Atticus, various of his speeches and essays, etc. And the events surrounding Julius Caesar's rise and fall are overall some of the most well-documented of the entire ancient world, so less would probably need to be fabricated than you might think.

Having not read most of the ancient sources myself (Plutarch's "Lives" and some excerpts from Tacitus and Suetonius notwithstanding), I can't provide a proper historian's review, but nothing struck me as particularly implausible. Near as I can tell, Harris sticks relatively close to the traditional historical narrative. He doesn't really make any sort of controversial statements regarding known events that I'm aware of.

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ashleyriddell61 t1_ixy7ynm wrote

Steven Saylors Roma sub Rosa series with Gordianos the finder, ancient Rome’s first and best PI for the rich and influential. Cicero is a regular client and all the events are extensively researched and based in actual real history. Wildly entertaining and turns Pompey, Cicero, Cæsar and so many other into living, flawed people. First book; Roman Blood.

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ewomanchek_ t1_ixygzpz wrote

I came here just to say this, I couldn't agree more!

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AngloBeaver t1_ixwosfd wrote

This is boring, but I work in Water Utilities and found the water network at Pompeii fascinating. I'd already got used to the idea of flushing toilets and drinking fountains in medieval castles, but this was even more advanced.

On a similar theme, Mary Beards book on Pompeii goes deep into the minutiae and makes on the surface boring topics fascinating. For example her analysis of Pompeii's one way traffic system.

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silverturtle14 t1_ixzh4m0 wrote

SPQR? Or a different book?

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AngloBeaver t1_ixzwdyd wrote

No, this book is called Pompeii. It's a lot more technical than SPQR but still very enjoyable.

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silverturtle14 t1_iy0e9o7 wrote

Oh gosh, more technical than SPQR? Haha I've tried to read that one a couple times and it's a challenge

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The_Real_Action_Hank t1_ixwhu0y wrote

It's not a book, but an anime - Thermae Romae on netflix (has a dub) and it's about.. stay with me.. a time travelling roman who travels to future bath houses and studies their architecture and design, and incorporates those lessons into his own public bath designs in ancient Rome.

I really love when artist are allowed to just geek out on certain subjects. I'll definitely have to check Pompeii out!

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tommytraddles t1_ixwr6bl wrote

I came across the live action version of Thermae Romae, and it struck me as so goddamn weird that I figured it had be to based on anime.

And, yep.

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ReginaGloriana t1_ixwliwq wrote

I love that movie! I once caused most of a bad movie group to walk out the door with that one.

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GRCooper t1_ixw1tsc wrote

Pillars of the Earth by Follett is much the same for medieval cathedral building

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parrotbsd t1_ixvwv4u wrote

I really enjoyed this book for precisely these reasons.

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Ground_Dazzling t1_ixwhm2s wrote

I've always enjoyed Jon Krakauer. His book, "Under the Banner of Heaven," wasn't just about a homicide, but spent a great deal of time talking about the history of the Mormon church from it's inception, to the exodus, to the contemporary fundamentalism.

edit: fat fingers

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Awesomest_Possumest t1_ixz33rc wrote

I feel like I've seen that title streaming before. Did they turn it into a doc/miniseries or something? Is it true to the book do you know?

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winepigsandmush t1_ixw7dd8 wrote

Working nights back in '05 or '06 , the highlight of the shift was "off the shelf" on the BBC world service. Still remember this book being read in 15 minute episodes. Absolutely riveting. I should see if it's on Libby actually.

Edit. Yup. They do, and I have. Thanks for the recommendation.

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ShieldOnTheWall t1_ixwuqns wrote

I also very much enjoyed his 17th century fugitive thriller/western(!?) "Act of Oblivion". Lots of nice historical detail (I studied the era, and I couldn't majorly fault him) and strong clear writing. Won't go down in history as a jewel, but very solid.

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Roadrunnr61 t1_ixw163v wrote

My Dad might like this. Does it have any graphic content?

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boxer_dogs_dance OP t1_ixw1gna wrote

I think it had a couple of maps but otherwise not much.

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[deleted] t1_ixxbx6a wrote

[removed]

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Roadrunnr61 t1_ixxdq9d wrote

Thanks. I guess I won’t be borrowing it from him. lol

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Davmilasav t1_ixxel3b wrote

Sorry, but I figured you should know. Otherwise, it's really interesting. Maybe read it first and see if it's too gruesome.

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Roadrunnr61 t1_ixxqspd wrote

I really appreciate the info. Thanks for letting me know.

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gargle_ground_glass t1_ixvz9jv wrote

Thanks – I like this kind of thing and I'll check it out.

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Ghost_taco t1_ixw45ci wrote

I liked this book a lot too - for the reasons mentioned.

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propernice t1_ixwpsxo wrote

I remember I was surprised when I liked this book back in college when I read it. Thanks for reminding me of it, definitely think I'll re-read.

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Joyce_Hatto t1_ixwv9is wrote

Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K J Parker is a terrific novel about an engineer who has to devise different ways to defend his city against a lengthy siege.

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MaverickTopGun t1_ixwfkqz wrote

Cadillac Desert and Water is Worth Fighting For are great if you wanna scratch a similar itch in a modern context

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DoinTheBullDance t1_ixwkios wrote

Also if you’re into California water - Dreamt Land is fantastic and a pretty easy read as far as history/nonfiction goes.

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boxer_dogs_dance OP t1_ixwi0nc wrote

I already know Cadillac Desert. Thanks for mentioning Water worth fighting for

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Henri_Dupont t1_ixx67av wrote

OMG this was a great book, not just b/c I'm an engineer. It's like a sci fi novel but set in ancient Roman times

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MattonArsenal t1_ixxsioz wrote

Loved this book. Along those lines, three narrative historical non-fiction (I realize Pompeii is fictional) books I really enjoyed were Devil in the White City (serial killer/architecture and urban planning) and Isaac’s Storm (natural disaster/early meteorology) both by Erik Larson. Also the Johnstown Flood by David McCollugh (man-made disaster/civil engineering).

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Awesomest_Possumest t1_ixz43k3 wrote

Any of Erik Larson is good. In the garden of beasts I think it's called is his about the rise of the Nazis through the lens of the American ambassador to Germany. Dead Wake, about the sinking of the passenger ship the Lusitania by a German U boat in WWI. It's fascinating about how just the right combination of factors made the ship sink, let alone be fired upon.

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evanwhiteballs t1_ixyysa4 wrote

Aztec by Gary Jennings gets into the knitty gritty of life 1400's Mexico. Worth a read.

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boxer_dogs_dance OP t1_ixyzkoi wrote

Read it. Thank you. Also if it's the same book, I was not ready for some of that Aztec religion. This was before Google was a thing and I didn't think to check an encyclopedia. Well done book but brutal and shocking.

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Ic2way t1_ixx8n7b wrote

If you liked Pompeii, you should read all of Robert Harris's books, which are fictionalised history books. You might especially like The Ghost, a book about Cheire Blair, wife of Tony, and her CIA connections...Every other book, i guess with the exception of his first (What if Hitler won the war), describe history. Does the Ghost???

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ZaphodG t1_ixy0d1r wrote

I think Pompeii is the best Robert Harris book. Fatherland is the best concept but it isn’t as good a read.

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Tphenis t1_ixyl4e1 wrote

I loved this book.

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CanibalCows t1_ixwqekc wrote

Spoiler!

>!Is this that book with the rich guy that fed a person to his flesh eating fish?!<

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CrazyCatLady108 t1_ixxpyky wrote

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jiggerriggeroo t1_ixxh043 wrote

I enjoyed it. I’m not sure how historically accurate it was but seemed pretty good. Story was a little far-fetched but the aqueduct stuff was fascinating.

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spareshirt t1_ixxr4z2 wrote

If you like Pompei, well worth reading “16 ways to defend a walled city” by KJ Parker. Interesting historical fantasy in a Roman-esque era… with an engineer as the phenomenal main character/narrator. The audiobook read by Ray Walker is one of my absolute favs.

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Khelek7 t1_ixxteil wrote

Yeah, I started hs engineers series back when it was coming out (2008 era?). I did not care for his tyle, but wanted too. I might try his new stuff, shee if I enjoy them now more.

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Foreign_Mongoose6015 t1_ixxuhrb wrote

Isn't Pompeii the most ancient esoteric roman city in the old ancient world or what?!

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the_mist_maker t1_ixy4qx6 wrote

Adding this to my list right now. Water resources and urban engineering through a lens of fiction may not sound fascinating to everyone, but to me that sounds like crack. Gimme the good stuff!

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HBMS11 t1_ixy8510 wrote

There are a couple of good Nevil Shute books about aircraft engineering. He was an engineer and involved in making the R100 airship - his autobiography Slide Rule gives fascinating insight into this and the R101 airship disaster.

He also wrote a fiction book No Highway In The Sky that again deals with aircraft engineering. It was also made into a film starring James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich.

He has a lovely engaging writing style, not unlike the tone of Robert Harris' Pompeii actually.

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informativebitching t1_ixyr111 wrote

Well now if that isn’t just my profession and hobby rolled into a book.

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mrdid t1_ixz1ej9 wrote

16 Ways to Defend a Walled City by Tom Holt. An engineering officer suddenly finds himself in charge of fictional capital city similar to Rome while it is under siege by a strange new enemy.

Lots of engineering, urban infrastructure, city politics, that kind of thing. Was definitly an interesting read.

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Awesomest_Possumest t1_ixz4be7 wrote

The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson is about the big London cholera epedimic, and looks into transmission, urban planning, germ and other medical theory at the time, and wastewater/water systems. Another fascinating one, recommended to me from this sub probably.

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enolalola t1_ixzxazl wrote

Thanks for the post, love this thread

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bookreader018 t1_ixxuxyx wrote

I personally had a tough time with this book because I’m a classicist and know too much about Pompeii. All I could think about were the many ways the main character would have died doing what he did in the book.

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boxer_dogs_dance OP t1_ixxvjcs wrote

Thank you for your perspective. I had one moment when what the main character did broke immersion for me, and I'm like yeah no you would be dead doing that. But I got back into the story. It isn't the best book ever, but a lot of it was fascinating.

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