In the Shadow of Vesuvius [Paperback]

Jordan Lancaster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 2009

From its origins in Homer's Odyssey and its founding nearly 3,000 years ago, Naples has long attracted travellers, artists and foreign rulers--from the visitors of the Grand Tour to Goethe, Nelson, Dickens and Neruda.  The stunning beauty of its natural setting coupled with the charms of its colorful past and lively present--from the ruins of Pompeii to the glittering performances of the San Carlo opera house--continue to seduce all those who explore Naples today.  In the Shadow of Vesuvius is a sparkling portrait of the city--the definitive companion for anyone seeking to delve beneath its surface.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a study not onlyof Pompeii but of the whole Golfo di Napoli, which Jordan Lancaster feels to be her spiritual home.  She takes us from Hercules and Odysseus to Virgil and Spike Milligan . . . take Lancaster as a handbook." --Spectator

 

"Rich with well known events and tasty anecdotes.  A delight for the soul" --Il Mattino

 

"This is a fascinating history of an enchanting city.  Jordan Lancaster takes us on an entertaining journey that brings history to life.  An ideal guide for anyone visiting Naples." --Italy Magazine

 

"Despite the huge scope of the subject matter, Lancaster keeps things lively, ensuing the pace never sags." --Italian Magazine

 

"If you are planning to travel to south Italy, then reading Jordan Lancaster's In the Shadow of Vesuvius will stand you in good stead." --The Lady

"Eschewing the extensive references of a scholarly monograph and aiming instead at a general reader, the author uses a varied palatte – art, music, literature, cuisine, popular cultural and cinema – to color the narrative of three thousand years… Lancaster evokes the drama of the city shadowed by Vesuvius, capturing sentiments long dear to foreigners and locals alike."  – Sean Coco, Trinity College

 

 

 

About the Author

Jordan Lancaster has studies at the universities of Cambridge and Bologna and holds a Ph.D. in Italian Studies from the University of Toronto.  She tauht Itlaian language and literature at universities in Canda and the United States before moving to Naples where she was a post doctoral fellow at the Instituto Italiano per gli Studi Storici.  Dr. Lancaster now worls as a translator/interpreter in London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Tauris Parke Paperbacks (January 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1845116992
• ISBN-13: 978-1845116996
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #710,786 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent historical overview, May 1, 2011

By 

Tebes "Buchlieber" (Niagara Region, ON) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Shadow of Vesuvius (Paperback)

The history of Naples is essential to understanding the history of Italy, even the history of Modern Europe. Naples was once 'the' Italian city to visit for 18th and 19th century European visitors on the Grand Tour.

Jordan Lancaster is a gifted writer and leads the reader through the different time periods of Neapolitan history from the Greeks to the Romans to the Normans, the Spanish, the Austrians to Mussolini and the moderns. Without Naples and its influence we would never have the poetry of Virgil or Horace or the cuisine we have associated with Italy, namely pasta - cucina povera.

Lancaster writers with ease as well as enthusiasm. You can tell she loves the city and culture she is writing about. She gives a great overview without bombarding the reader with too many dates. For those that want to dig deeper, she has a list of recommended reading.

What I enjoyed best about this book is that she focused on the many men and women who made Naples what it is today. She relates the story of Giovanni Boccacio meeting his muse, Lady Fiammetta at the Church of San Lorenzo. It's these little moments that make history so pleasurable.

If you're saturated with yet another travel book on the romance of Tuscany (basically Harlequin for non-fiction readers) or sick of Venice, reading In the Shadow of Vesuvius might get you thinking about making a trip further south.