The Shadow of Vesuvius

A Life of Pliny

By: Daisy Dunn

Narrated by: Mike Grady

When Pliny the Elder perished at Stabiae during the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, he left behind an enormous compendium of knowledge, his 37-volume Natural History, and a teenaged nephew who revered him as a father. Grieving his loss, Pliny the Younger inherited the Elder's notebooks - filled with pearls of wisdom - and his legacy. At its heart, The Shadow of Vesuvius is a literary biography of the younger man, who would grow up to become a lawyer, senator, poet, collector of villas, and chronicler of the Roman Empire from the dire days of terror under Emperor Domitian to the gentler times of Emperor Trajan. A biography that will appeal to lovers of Mary Beard books, it is also a moving narrative about the profound influence of a father figure on his adopted son. Interweaving the younger Pliny's Letters with extracts from the Elder's Natural History, Daisy Dunn paints a vivid, compelling portrait of two of antiquity's greatest minds.

©2019 Daisy Dunn (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A nice breezy look at the Plinies.

I enjoyed this. What most interested me was the ignorance of the scholarly Pliny the Elder. He seems a satire on modern day professors. Don’t expect striking insights into these two men but you may learn enough that you will want to learn more.

Well known yet obscure.

Most students of Rome have heard of Pliny the Elder and the Younger, but would struggle to describe their achievements. Ms Dunn does a commendable job in enlivening their lives for us. Her erudition is evident on every page, while wrapped in a fluid prose. One hopes she will go on to portray other important figures in the early empire. My nominee would be Trajan.

Worth a 2nd reading

So much fascinating detail re both Pliny this period of Roman Empire
that I’d listen to again or read a hard copy, or possibly both together. I listened to all of it while driving and so missed some little but important details when distracted by traffic. Dunn is an excellent storyteller, and though I was a bit skeptical of Grady’s narration at first, he gradually won me over, and by latter chapters I genuinely looked forward to subtly enthusiastic but never gushing tone.

good, but could've been better

the book too much depends on uncritical repetition of a few prime sources without questioning them.
it is at its best when it comes to the subject of Pliny's legacy in Renaissance world and later, which comprises 20% of the book.

however, it is still a good analysis of an interesting subject

Great narration

An interesting overview of Both Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. It is written in an accessible and entertaining way.