In AD 79, the residents of the booming Roman city of Pompeii were shocked when a nearby mountain exploded, releasing superhot ash, rock, and gas on the surrounding areas. What happens next is the extraordinary account of a volcano in action. Though the people who didn’t flee Pompeii were doomed, the volcano preserved their remains, allowing us to better understand a fascinating time in the Roman Empire. Astonishing photographs of Pompeii, primary source records of the occurrence, and riveting text are just some highlights of this high-interest volume.