Short but interesting account of the Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD when Pompeii and Herculaneum was destroyed. Pliny the Younger's uncle, Pliny the Elder was killed when he got too close in order to check it out. Really nice illustrations by Barry Moser. ( )

Here’s an interpretation of the two letters of Pliny the Younger to Tacitus, about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E. Black-and-white wood engravings by artist Barry Moser illustrate the grotesque images described in Pliny’s letters. Moser’s engravings have illustrated more than a hundred books, including Moby Dick and Alice in Wonderland.

Ashen Sky is a good title. Ash from Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in Italy spread to Egypt, Syria, and Africa, spreading pestilence. Two cities at its base, Pompeii and Herculaneum, were completely buried in ash and lost to history … finally uncovered 1,800 years later by a chance archaeological discovery.

Readers of my book about Revelation will immediately recognize the connection of Mount Vesuvius to my religious book blog. Its eruption eerily mimics the description of fire and brimstone torment in the book of Revelation, and many Bible scholars surmise that the image must have burned itself permanently into the mind of Revelation’s author. Read especially chapter eight, about the seven trumpets.

It’s hard to overestimate the cosmic importance of this event; an eruption of this magnitude happens somewhere on earth about once every 1,000 years. If parts of Revelation begin to sound like the ravings of a madman with a fist full of prophetic scriptures to explain, we can surely pardon its author. So if you’re curious about Revelation’s inspiration and wish to read the letters of Pliny the Younger, you may as well choose a fun picture book to read. ( )

This is a very short and simple edition of the two letters that Pliny the Younger writes to Tacitus about the death of his uncle Pliny the Elder during his investigation of the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius near the ancient city of Naples. The letters are short but interesting as are most of Pliny the Younger's letters. He was a skilled writer and orator. The best thing about this short book is the amazing woodcut illustrations by Barry Moser, which is the main reason I bought the book. I am a sucker for sweet woodcuts and Barry Moser is a modern master, plus these have a volcano! It hardly gets better. There is also a nice little introduction that explains some of the archaeological findings from the buried Roman settlements of Pompeii and Herculanuem. ( )