This is an interesting read that shows what life was like for a number of the inhabitants of Pompeii in the days leading up to the eruption that made the city so infamous. Lytton uses his characters to cover all the main cultures and peoples that make up this colourful city, from the Greeks (represented by Glaucus) and the Egyptians (represented by Arbaces) to the new religion of Christianity (represented by Olinthus) and the older religions and belief in the occult (represented by the Witch). The only people not well represented are the Italians themselves but then again Pompeii is very much a Greek stronghold thanks to its coastal location and fertile lands. The vibrancy of the people and the city is portrayed well and even though you know how it all ends there is still a sense of hope as well as a sense of dread that keeps things moving well. Personally I would've liked more about the eruption itself and how each of the main characters faired and where they ended up afterwards but this may have taken away from the feeling of finality that the book ends with so maybe its for the best.