Pompeii: An Archaeological Guide, Paperback

The resonant ruins of Pompeii are perhaps the most direct route back to the living, breathing world of the ancient Romans. Two million visitors annually now walk the paved streets which re-emerged, miraculously preserved, from their layers of volcanic ash. Yet for all the fame and unique importance of the site, there is a surprising lack of a handy archaeological guide in English to reveal and explain its public spaces and private residences. This compact and user-friendly handbook, written by an expert in the field, helpfully fills that gap. Illustrated throughout with maps, plans, diagrams and other images, Pompeii: An Archaeological Guide offers a general introduction to the doomed city followed by an authoritative summary and survey of the buildings, artefacts and paintings themselves. The result is an unrivalled picture, derived from an intimate knowledge of Roman archaeology around the Bay of Naples, of the forum, temples, brothels, bath-houses, bakeries, gymnasia, amphitheatre, necropolis and other site buildings - including perennial favourites like the House of the Faun, named after its celebrated dancing satyr.

Paul Wilkinson founded the Kent Archaeological Field School (www.kafs.co.uk), is currently Director of the Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company - or SWAT Archaeology for short (www.swatarchaeology.co.uk) - and holds a PhD in archaeology from the University of St Andrews. His previous books include the bestselling Pompeii: The Last Day (2004) and Archaeology: What it is, Where it is, and How to do it (2007), which have each sold well in excess of 50,000 copies.