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bookfever's review against another edition
5.0
When I picked up this book to read I had of course hoped to at least like it but I couldn't have predicted that I would be so crazy about it. In fact, I loved it so much that it's without a doubt in my top three books that I've read in 2020. I'm sure it's going to make a huge appearance in my end of year post in December.
This book is a biography about the lives of Pliny the Elder and his nephew Pliny the Younger. Pliny the Elder perished in the catastrophe of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. that absolutely ravaged the ancient Roman settlements of Herculaneum, Pompeii, Oplontis and Stabiae. Pliny the Younger, who was at the time 17 years old, survived but had to be devastated to have lost his uncle who was more like a father to him. Luckily enough there are authors like Daisy Dunn bringing Pliny the Elder and the Younger back to life.
I knew a decent amount about Pliny the Elder but not so much about his nephew even though he did achieve great things as well. I can't imagine how much research the author had to have done to write this book but it must've been immense because there was so much detail about both Pliny's. It was truly impressive to read. And more than that it was a super readable book. I flew through it so fast.
In the Shadow of Vesuvius: A Life of Pliny by Daisy Dunn is officially the most surprising book, in the best way possible, that I have read this year. Not only is it one of my favorite books of 2020 but also definitely one of my favorite nonfiction books ever. Just amazing!
This book is a biography about the lives of Pliny the Elder and his nephew Pliny the Younger. Pliny the Elder perished in the catastrophe of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. that absolutely ravaged the ancient Roman settlements of Herculaneum, Pompeii, Oplontis and Stabiae. Pliny the Younger, who was at the time 17 years old, survived but had to be devastated to have lost his uncle who was more like a father to him. Luckily enough there are authors like Daisy Dunn bringing Pliny the Elder and the Younger back to life.
I knew a decent amount about Pliny the Elder but not so much about his nephew even though he did achieve great things as well. I can't imagine how much research the author had to have done to write this book but it must've been immense because there was so much detail about both Pliny's. It was truly impressive to read. And more than that it was a super readable book. I flew through it so fast.
In the Shadow of Vesuvius: A Life of Pliny by Daisy Dunn is officially the most surprising book, in the best way possible, that I have read this year. Not only is it one of my favorite books of 2020 but also definitely one of my favorite nonfiction books ever. Just amazing!
professorwytch's review against another edition
4.0
As this is my first review of a non-fiction book comprising academic research I am unsure on how to rate this, so for now I am going with 4 stars and saying I very much enjoyed this duel-biography of both the Pliny's of Ancient Rome.
In my opinion, Dunn has done a great job at making this work readable, following a structure of 'seasons' instead of chronology which kept the writing engaging. You are given a lot of well researched and in-depth information solely based off of what survives of Pliny the Youngers letters to his friends, colleagues, and even the Emperor Trajan; whilst Dunn also draws from Pliny the Elders 'The Natural History'. She incorporates what the older Pliny wrote in his encyclopaedia of knowledge, extending from the uses of plants to bodily functions, into the younger Pliny's life as a renowned Orator and Senator. Dunn helps us explore Pliny's personal life as well as his personality, expanding upon his internal thoughts which snuck their way into his letters, snippets of poetry which conveyed his feelings and morals on certain topics, and what Pliny may have taken away from his uncle's works before his death in 79 AD.
Dunn also provides background information on certain events which would have been crucial in Pliny the Youngers lifetime, such as 'The Stoic Opposition' and its outcome under Emperor Domitian, Domitian's eventual assassination and of course the eruption of Vesuvius when he was a young man. She also works to include what influences both of the Pliny's had over a millennia after their time, when their works were eventually republished into the public. For example, Pliny the Elder's philosophy of nature and its beauty playing a role in the development of Renaissance Art, and Pliny the Youngers influence over the region of Campania and Como which can still be seen today through its rich history and commemorations to Pliny.
I learnt much reading this book, having a deeper look into the philosophy of the Stoics and their morals and values, certain archaeological finds such as the 'Skull of Pliny the Elder' and what life was like during Pliny's life in ancient Rome. I love how Dunn includes a wide range of other influential and famous Ancient peoples into this book who either personally knew the Pliny's or had an influence over their work - some of these people being Pliny's personal friends Tacitus and Suetonius, other writers and poets ranging from Virgil, Catullus and Hesiod, or other Historical figures such as Cicero, Cato and Hippocrates.
I enjoyed Dunn's relations to the Homeric epics and Virgil's 'Aeneid' throughout Pliny's life and how him fleeing the eruption of Vesuvius could be comparable to Aeneas fleeing the burning Troy with his family. My favourite comparison being both Plinys' personal philosophy of 'To be alive is to be awake', both known to be insomniacs devoted to their work above all other tasks. Dunn likens this to the teachings of Homer in the Illiad, where Sleep and Death are known as brothers, going hand in hand to take Zeus' mortal son Sarpedon's body from the battlefield. To embrace Sleep would be an invitation to Death, therefore one must live their life awake as much as possible.
To conclude I recommend this book if you are looking to learn more about Ancient Rome in the first century AD without getting bored or over-bared with information. Dunn has created a lovely little history, written as if fiction, but is completely real.
In my opinion, Dunn has done a great job at making this work readable, following a structure of 'seasons' instead of chronology which kept the writing engaging. You are given a lot of well researched and in-depth information solely based off of what survives of Pliny the Youngers letters to his friends, colleagues, and even the Emperor Trajan; whilst Dunn also draws from Pliny the Elders 'The Natural History'. She incorporates what the older Pliny wrote in his encyclopaedia of knowledge, extending from the uses of plants to bodily functions, into the younger Pliny's life as a renowned Orator and Senator. Dunn helps us explore Pliny's personal life as well as his personality, expanding upon his internal thoughts which snuck their way into his letters, snippets of poetry which conveyed his feelings and morals on certain topics, and what Pliny may have taken away from his uncle's works before his death in 79 AD.
Dunn also provides background information on certain events which would have been crucial in Pliny the Youngers lifetime, such as 'The Stoic Opposition' and its outcome under Emperor Domitian, Domitian's eventual assassination and of course the eruption of Vesuvius when he was a young man. She also works to include what influences both of the Pliny's had over a millennia after their time, when their works were eventually republished into the public. For example, Pliny the Elder's philosophy of nature and its beauty playing a role in the development of Renaissance Art, and Pliny the Youngers influence over the region of Campania and Como which can still be seen today through its rich history and commemorations to Pliny.
I learnt much reading this book, having a deeper look into the philosophy of the Stoics and their morals and values, certain archaeological finds such as the 'Skull of Pliny the Elder' and what life was like during Pliny's life in ancient Rome. I love how Dunn includes a wide range of other influential and famous Ancient peoples into this book who either personally knew the Pliny's or had an influence over their work - some of these people being Pliny's personal friends Tacitus and Suetonius, other writers and poets ranging from Virgil, Catullus and Hesiod, or other Historical figures such as Cicero, Cato and Hippocrates.
I enjoyed Dunn's relations to the Homeric epics and Virgil's 'Aeneid' throughout Pliny's life and how him fleeing the eruption of Vesuvius could be comparable to Aeneas fleeing the burning Troy with his family. My favourite comparison being both Plinys' personal philosophy of 'To be alive is to be awake', both known to be insomniacs devoted to their work above all other tasks. Dunn likens this to the teachings of Homer in the Illiad, where Sleep and Death are known as brothers, going hand in hand to take Zeus' mortal son Sarpedon's body from the battlefield. To embrace Sleep would be an invitation to Death, therefore one must live their life awake as much as possible.
To conclude I recommend this book if you are looking to learn more about Ancient Rome in the first century AD without getting bored or over-bared with information. Dunn has created a lovely little history, written as if fiction, but is completely real.
durrenmatt's review
4.0
It was a pleasure listening to this gentle book and getting to know the two Pliny´s. All I remembered from Latin class was that there was an Elder who died in the eruption of Vesuvius and a Younger who wrote it down. Pliny the Younger struck me mostly for the modern ideas that he had, constantly trying to achieve a healthy work-life balance, caring for nature and not eating meat, obsession with home improvement and trying to make the most of the little time we have. His uncle by contrast appears to have been quite the genius, some sort of Leonardo da Vinci or von Humboldt of his time, and his intelligent observations and conclusions woven throughout the book are a real pleasure. Less is known about the person he was because only his monumental Natural History survives, whereas from the nephew the main source is a very large amount of letters.
The book itself is well-written and researched, going beyond the mere biographical facts and making the odd comparison to modern literature, philosophy, science and archaeology. I was a bit less enthusiastic about the thematic approach taken to the biography instead of the chronological. I understand the writer had little choice as Pliny´s letters were not dated, and overall I do feel I got a good idea of who they were and the time they lived in. Daisy Dunn´s Catullus book is on my list for next year.
The book itself is well-written and researched, going beyond the mere biographical facts and making the odd comparison to modern literature, philosophy, science and archaeology. I was a bit less enthusiastic about the thematic approach taken to the biography instead of the chronological. I understand the writer had little choice as Pliny´s letters were not dated, and overall I do feel I got a good idea of who they were and the time they lived in. Daisy Dunn´s Catullus book is on my list for next year.
jamieleepilk's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
I really enjoyed this book! I liked how the book compared the two men and showed how the Elder influenced the Younger. The only reason it's not a full four stars is the non-linear structure made it a little confusing (the timeline at the back came in handy a fair few times) otherwise it's written really well and is insanely well researched and in depth. I enjoyed sections about how they influence people of their future especially the Mary & Percy Shelley, it felt like a window into what the Pliny's legacies would become and who they would influence.
It read almost like fiction in style with the jumping timelines feeling like memories etc.
It read almost like fiction in style with the jumping timelines feeling like memories etc.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death