Vesuvius: The most famous volcano in the world - Rilegato

Darley, Gillian

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 1846683173 ISBN 13: 9781846683176

Casa editrice: Profile Books Ltd, 2011

Riassunto

For Greeks and Romans Vesuvius was a fearsome sacred place. Spartacus launched his slave rebellion from its crater. The Enlightenment brought the serious study of the phenomenon of volcanic activity. Its famous visitors included Goethe and Mozart, Byron and the Shelleys, Madame de Stael and Lady Hamilton. Painters popular and serious (from Wright of Derby to Andy Warhol) made its exploding or dormant outline an instantly recognisable icon. Vesuvius has remained a focus for tourism and modern life. At the last big eruption in 1944 the Allied forces assumed they were witnessing the detonation of an immense bomb. Rampant modern development means that millions could be at risk when it next erupts. As Dickens said, Vesuvius is 'the genius of the scene ... biding its terrible time'.

Su questo libro

Recensione:

In the best tradition of English letters, this is a book of which even Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, would roar his approval (Ross Leckie Country Life)

Gillian Darley's book has the pace, colour and deliberation of a Vesuvian eruption (James Hamilton Spectator)

Engaging (TLS)

It's brave to write a longue durée history of anything, and here it has been done magnificently. There was much in every part that was new to me (Martin Rudwick Author of Bursting the Limits of Time)

Descrizione del libro:

Now a Radio 4 Book of the Week, to be aired from 16th May.

Vesuvius, nestled over the Bay of Naples, is (still) the most famous volcano in the world. There have been nearly thirty major eruptions since AD 79, but none has matched the cataclysm of the eruption which destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum within hours. Since then Vesuvius has been speculated upon, feared, and celebrated by writers and artists and hordes of visitors. It is unquestionably a Wonder of the World.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Profile Books Ltd
• Data di pubblicazione: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1846683173
• ISBN 13: 9781846683176
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 256