Customer Reviews
So where are the Samnites? - By: Historian, 26 Jun 2008 
This book is highly overrated. How can anyone write a book on the houses of Pompeii without one single reference to the Samnites? Much of what we know about Roman houses comes from what has been learned from the Scavi at Pompeii. But Pompeii for much of its history wasn't a Roman City at all. It only really became truly Romanised around 80BCE after the `Social Wars', when the Romans decided to billet 2000 veteransin the city to keep the locals quiet.
Add to this, many of Hadrill's diagrams are incomprehensible. With numbers everywhere & no keys to what they represent. And exactly where the science isin this book is a `Villa of the Mysteries' to me.
Superb - By: A reader, 30 Nov 2007 
While this is an extremely scientific book & perhaps not the first port of call for the uninitiated on Pompeii, f.or the serious student of Roman history, archaeology, & art history, it is simply unparalleled. No other book on Pompeii's domestic sphere can match up to Wallace-Hadrill's masterful use of evidence & well-defined themes. There is also a pleasing amount of colour plates & images throughout.
A superb account of the use of domestic space in Pompeii. - By: , 10 Nov 1998 This is a technical book which is demanding for the non-specialist. However, it is delghtfully written, well illustrated & readily repays the effort required. Anyone interestedin the use of living spacein Pompeii & Herculaneum will find this book fascinating as will anyone tired of the platitudes of popular accounts. It is without doubt the best book I have come across about Pompeii & it gives hope that there is still much that can be learnt from the site despite the ravages it has suffered at the hands of archaeologistsin the past.
