Customer Reviews

In the Shadow of Vesuvius

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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.