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A Day of Fire: a novel of Pompeii Paperback – October 31, 2014
- Print length338 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateOctober 31, 2014
- Dimensions6 x 0.77 x 9 inches
- ISBN-100990324575
- ISBN-13978-0990324577
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Product details
- Publisher : Knight Media, LLC (October 31, 2014)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 338 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0990324575
- ISBN-13 : 978-0990324577
- Item Weight : 1.13 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.77 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,649,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #94,992 in Historical Fiction (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Vicky Alvear Shecter is the author of multiple books set in the ancient world, including the YA novels, CLEOPATRA'S MOON, based on the life of Cleopatra's only daughter, and CURSES AND SMOKE: A NOVEL OF POMPEII and the adult historical collaborations, A SONG OF WAR, A YEAR OF RAVENS, and A DAY OF FIRE. She has written a mid-grade series on mythology (ANUBIS SPEAKS, HADES SPEAKS, and THOR SPEAKS) as well as two award-winning biographies for kids. She a She is a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Antiquities at Emory University in Atlanta.
Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Classical Voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the 20th century with “The Alice Network”, “The Huntress,” "The Rose Code," "The Diamond Eye," and "The Briar Club." She is also a co-author in several collaborative novels including "The Phoenix Crown" with Janie Chang and "Ribbons of Scarlet" with Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, Eliza Knight, Sophie Perinot, and Heather Webb. All have been translated into multiple languages. Kate and her husband now live in Maryland with three rescue dogs.
Eliza Knight is an award winning, USA Today and international bestselling author. Her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles and ran through the fields in Southern France. She can still remember standing before the great golden palace, and imagining what life must have been like. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, her weekends were filled with visits to museums, and historical reenactments. Escape into history for courageous heroines, irresistible heroes and daring escapades. Join Eliza (sometimes as E.) on riveting historical journeys that cross landscapes around the world. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and Novelists, Inc., the creator of the popular historical blog, History Undressed, a co-host on the History, Books and Wine podcast and a co-host for the true crime podcast, Crime Feast.
While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she tries to keep up with her three not-so-little children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses, two very naughty Newfies, and a turtle named Fish.
Look for STARRING ADELE ASTAIRE a story full of glitz and glam, delving into the life of Adele Astaire, a spirited and talented woman who served up smiles and love both on and off the stage—with and without her also famous brother Fred Astaire— along with a determined young dancer with rags-to-riches dreams. Coming in June 2024, THE QUEEN'S FAITHFUL COMPANION.
For more information about book club visits, downloadable reader guides, upcoming author events, book news, newsletter and more, visit her website: www.elizaknight.com
If you love history and want to dive in for some fun, visit Eliza's popular, award-winning blog:
http://historyundressed.com or her history podcast: https://historybooksandwinepodcast.buzzsprout.com
To connect on social media, visit/follow Eliza at the following:
Twitter: @elizaknight
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elizaknightfiction
Instagram: @ElizaKnightFiction
STEPHANIE DRAY is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into ten languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. She lives in Maryland with her husband, cats, and history books.
Join Stephanie Dray's Monthly Newsletter for:
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E. Knight (aka Eliza Knight) is an award-winning and USA Today Bestselling author. Her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles and ran through the fields in Southern France. She's known for her riveting, scandalous, rip-your-hear-out tales of historical fiction. Eliza's debut historical fiction novel, MY LADY VIPER, has received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Historical Novel Society 2015 Annual Indie Award. She regularly presents on writing panels and was named Romance Writer’s of America’s 2013 PRO Mentor of the Year. Eliza lives in Maryland atop a small mountain with a knight, three princesses and two very naughty puppies. For more information, visit her at www.elizaknight.com or www.historyundressed.com. Sign up for her newsletter to receive for first looks at book covers, excerpts, news and more! http://eepurl.com/dB4YK5
Visit her Eliza Knight page to read more about her sizzling Scottish romance tales! http://www.amazon.com/Eliza-Knight/e/B003EM6RDA
'History is more than facts on a pages. It's the sounds, the smells, the people, the passion. History should make you think: "I was there."
My books are born from my obsession with Roman history. I've followed Spartacus' trail across Italy. I've stood at Cannae and imagined Hannibal's army meeting the massed legions of Rome. I've watched the sea lapping against the fortifications of Syracuse, which were besieged by the Romans for almost two years. I've walked Hadrian's Wall in full Roman military dress, including hobnailed boots.
Immerse yourself in these incredible stories and - like me - remind yourself why the legend of Rome endures.' - Ben Kane
'Who is the rising star of historical fiction? I say Ben Kane.' - WILBUR SMITH
To find out more about Ben Kane, his world and his novels visit: www.benkane.net
Twitter @BenKaneAuthor
Facebook.com/benkanebooks
Insta benkanewrites
Sophie Perinot writes stories set against the past exploring issues and feelings so essentially human that they transcend any particular era. Her debut novel, "The Sister Queens," (2012/NAL), delved into the complicated and compelling bond between sisters--in this case Marguerite and Eleanor of Provence, 13th century queens of France and England. Perinot's, "Medicis Daughter," (2015/Thomas Dunne; 2019/Usignolo Press) traveled forward three-hundred years to the intrigue-riven French Valois court, spinning the tale of beautiful princess Marguerite who walked the knife edge between the demands of her serpentine mother, Catherine de Medicis, and those of her own conscience. Her next novel, "Ribbons of Scarlet," (William Morrow/2019) a collaborative work with fellow historical authors Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, E. Knight and Heather Webb, offers a gutsy and sometimes gritty telling of the French Revolution from the female perspective.
Perinot has both a BA in History and a law degree. She left the practice of law to pursue artistic interests, including writing. An active member of the Historical Novel Society, she has attended all of the group's North American Conferences and served as a panelist multiple times.
When she is not visiting corners of the past, Sophie lives in Great Falls Virginia.
To learn more about Sophie and her work, visit http://www.sophieperinot.com Or if you are looking for a twist on Sophie, check out author Evie Hawtrey--Sophie's newest incarnation. Evie writes twisty mystery with a healthy dose of history.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the stories engaging and well-crafted. They describe the book as an enjoyable, captivating read with masterful writing and seamless storytelling. The characters are portrayed as rich, authentic, and etched sharply. Readers find the emotional content heartfelt and tragic, making it a moving and poignant experience. The visual style is described as immersive and beautiful.
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Customers enjoy the storytelling quality of the book. They find the stories interesting as standalone efforts, with excellent storylines that converge and diverge. The history, archaeology, and characters are seamlessly woven together, creating an immersive experience of Pompeii just before and during the eruption.
"...stunning book with such excellent and colorful writing, full of history about Pompeii, its citizens and the disaster that struck everyone there...." Read more
"...Each of them has their own personal story arc, which inevitably intersects with some of the others (being townspeople caught up in a common tragedy)..." Read more
"...For anyone who has visited Pompeii, memorable archaeological remains form the historical springboard for each part of the novel...." Read more
"...He achieves a delicate balance between drama and humour, in a story that could only be written by someone with an intimate knowledge of the life of..." Read more
Customers enjoy the book. They find the writing excellent and colorful. The accounts are fresh, and the characters are believable. Readers say it's worth their time and well-done.
"...The authors all delivered greatly and the book is one of the best I read this year. I might even call it the very best book I have read this year...." Read more
"...A DAY OF FIRE is an excellent read. I recommend it without reservation!" Read more
"...The author's description of gladiatorial combat is masterful. A joy to read...." Read more
"It was very entertaining." Read more
Customers find the writing quality masterful and seamless. They appreciate the well-crafted stories that connect seamlessly. The descriptions are vivid, and the authors' individual writing styles are melded seamlessly. Readers find the storytelling credible and resonate with them.
"...I think I liked this one the best of them all because it ties everything up in the end and some of the other characters appear in it and what..." Read more
"...Not only does the storytelling resonate, readers in the know will find credible connections to material evidence open to view at the ruins of..." Read more
"...The stories, however, are woven together quite well. The main problem I have with this book is its lack of originality of material...." Read more
"...And by that, I mean real historical fiction, not Wikipedian historical fiction with bewilderingly 21st-century characters thrown in for good measure..." Read more
Customers find the characters rich and authentic. They appreciate the time the book gives them to emotionally connect with certain characters, unlike most short stories. The story portrays the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius vividly, with sharply etched characters that almost congeal into one another.
"...are stories written by seperate authors, all the parts and characters are connected. Characters from one part appeared in others and so on and on...." Read more
"...Against this backdrop, the characters are etched so sharply, that they almost congeal into the real-life plaster casts from the archaeological..." Read more
"...Very good character development of the prostitutes. Overall, some parts of the novel move too slowly...." Read more
"...And it has the emotional resonance of a deeply character-driven tale that invests readers in the hearts and minds of six characters...." Read more
Customers find the book emotional and heartbreaking. They find it intense, sad, and uplifting at times. The plot explores the themes of human nature and disasters in an engaging way.
"...It simply brought me to tears. Not many stories can do that so I applaud E. Knight for being able to do that with this story...." Read more
"...There is a visceral sense, in this anthology, of drama, impending peril, and nature’s raw force...." Read more
"...The author's description of gladiatorial combat is masterful. A joy to read...." Read more
"...take the reader on a wild emotional ride, full of cliffhangers and heartbreak, pathos and humor, as the reader waits anxiously to discover the..." Read more
Customers find the book's visual style engaging. They describe it as an immersive, beautifully crafted mosaic of short stories that creates an intimate atmosphere. The writing is described as excellent and colorful, providing a good view of what life might have been like in Pompeii.
"...Pompeii is one absolutely stunning book with such excellent and colorful writing, full of history about Pompeii, its citizens and the disaster that..." Read more
"...To my amazement, the story not only works, it is a work of art!..." Read more
"Perceptive and beautiful collection of short stories strung together like a pearl necklace, each one bringing the reader closer to a tragic and..." Read more
"...--Just a fabulous, cleverly crafted mosaic all round." Read more
Customers appreciate the author collaboration. They find the storylines seamlessly connected and intertwined, making it easy to follow. The stories are well-done so as not to be confusing or overwhelming, and there are no jarring installments that detract from the overall experience.
"...The overlap of characters and stories is well done so as not to be confusing or overwhelming, but seems to speed up as the book progresses and..." Read more
"...It was cohesive. There were no jarring installments that detracted from the overall story - and there very much was an overall story...." Read more
"...They did a good job collaborating and meshing their individual writing styles as the various characters reappeared throughout the stories...." Read more
"...I'm so glad I did! I've never read such a seamlessly connected book, written by so many people...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's strength and courage. They find the characters' valiant efforts to survive impressive. The gritty and realistic portrayal of the end of a Roman city is appreciated, as well as the continuity of the storylines. Overall, customers are satisfied with the book's quality and condition.
"...She's fierce, independent and loyal. So how could I not love her?..." Read more
"...Ultimately it is a tale of love and courage, loyalty and the will to survive." Read more
"Book in good condition. I would purchase again from seller." Read more
"...consistently, incorporating characters and story lines with an admirable continuity...." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2014Part one: The Son by Vicky Alvear Shecter
I'm a big fan of this author and I was thrilled when I saw that the first part was her story. The Son is about a young man discovering the joys and disappointments of first loves and acceptance. I really liked this story because I soon discovered about who exactly (historically speaking) the story is about. But more than that, Vicky Alvear Shecter is a great writing and she pulled me right into the middle of Pompeii.
Part two: The Heiress by Sophie Perinot
Sophie Perinot is a unknown author to me but I loved her story. All the stories and characters in this book are connected but yet they're all different. I liked this story because it showed the struggles of marriage in ancient Roman times and how women didn't really have a show there. It also showed how people are not what they seem at first. Although Aemilia and Sabinus were very different, in age as well as personality, I still really liked Sabinus because he really wanted to take care of Aemilia and in the end he certainly did.
Part three: The Soldier by Ben Kane
Ben Kane is also a first time author to me. Just like the previous stories, I loved this one. I think it's impossible for me to hate a story about Pompeii but still, the story was great, the writing was excellent and it had a great pace. This story was a bit different from the other because it featured Rufus, an ex-soldier with debts. I really liked reading this point of view because it was more about the gladiators and the rougher side of Pompeii.
Part four: The Senator by Kate Quinn
This part was yet another amazing addition to the book. Definitely a favorite one of mine. Why? Because Diana (who appeared in the second story first, if I'm not mistaken) came in it, though it mainly focuses on senator, Marcus. Diana is a fantastic character because she's so different from the other women. She's fierce, independent and loyal. So how could I not love her? I liked her interactions with Marcus a lot and admire her so for not abandoning him in all the craziness. Marcus was a totally different story. Due to events happening in his lifetime he became a bit suicidal and didn't want to leave Pompeii when hell broke loose until Diana came to his rescue.
Part five: The Mother by E. Knight
I had expected this part to be sad because I anticipated where this story would go but I hadn't expected it to completely destroy me. It simply brought me to tears. Not many stories can do that so I applaud E. Knight for being able to do that with this story. It was beautiful in a tragic sort of way. The characters where this part focuses on were fantastic to read about, I loved them all and felt so badly for them. Heartbreaking but it was absolutely intriguing at the same time.
Part six: The Whore by Stephanie Dray
This part was excellent (just like the others) but I think I liked this one the best of them all because it ties everything up in the end and some of the other characters appear in it and what ultimately happens to them. This story is about Prima and Capella, two prostitues that are also sisters. They were definitely one of the more interesting characters, both very different but I thought reading both their points of view was so good. This story was also kind of sad but wonderfully told.
Overall:
I've always been fascinated by Pompeii but in the last year or so my fascination has grown even more so when I found out this book was happening I was so excited about it. The authors are all insanely good, though I had only read books by one of them. I heard a lot of amazing things about the others. Obviously, I wasn't wrong about it at all. The authors all delivered greatly and the book is one of the best I read this year. I might even call it the very best book I have read this year. Although these are stories written by seperate authors, all the parts and characters are connected. Characters from one part appeared in others and so on and on. I can't say enough how much I loved this. Because of this, this amazing collection of stories read as a full book. I can't express enough how much I loved this book.
A Day of Fire: a novel of Pompeii is one absolutely stunning book with such excellent and colorful writing, full of history about Pompeii, its citizens and the disaster that struck everyone there. I completely recommend this brilliant read!
- Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2015What makes Pompeii such an interesting subject for both writers and readers is the number of unanswered questions that surround it. Did it indeed take place in August of 79AD as Pliny the Younger wrote or later that year? Who are the people – nobility, commoners or slaves whose bodies have been frozen in place by the volcanic ash at the time of their deaths? Why were they there that day and what were their stories?
The ruins of Pompeii are a preternaturally preserved snapshot of a day in the life of ordinary folk from centuries ago – but a day unlike any other, a day that ended tragically for the inhabitants. This is the world that Pliny the Younger tries to describe in his letters about the event and the way in which it claimed his own uncle, Pliny the Elder. And this is the world that the six authors of Pompeii — A Day of Fire try to imagine as they recount the unfolding of that fateful day through the eyes of their all too human protagonists. As Vesuvius erupts and an avalanche of pumice stones and ash engulfs the town, every one of its residents is affected – some die instantaneously, others perish while trying to escape, and a lucky few miraculously survive.
The six stories follow their respective actors – young men and women, legionaries and senators, mothers and priestesses, patricians and slaves – in an interwoven tale that shares a common time span and backdrop. Each of them has their own personal story arc, which inevitably intersects with some of the others (being townspeople caught up in a common tragedy), and each story comes face-to-face with the same violent reality. There is a visceral sense, in this anthology, of drama, impending peril, and nature’s raw force. Against this backdrop, the characters are etched so sharply, that they almost congeal into the real-life plaster casts from the archaeological excavations. It is not hard to imagine “the beggar,” “the pregnant mother,” or “the slave,” being among the characters featured in these stories.
A review in verse is presented at our blog https://historynmystery.wordpress.com/2015/10/26/a-day-of-fire-review-in-verse/
- Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2024I read this book because Ben Kane had a part in writing it. At first, the idea of a single novel being written by six different authors seemed a reach too far, but I decided to give it a try because of Ben. To my amazement, the story not only works, it is a work of art! Structurally it is reminiscent of Thornton Wilder's BRIDGE OVER SAN LUIS REY, except DAY OF FIRE is the collaborative effort of five different authors. If a reader looks for it, I suppose stylistic differences among the sections might pop out; however, to me, the novel is seamless. The sections are tied together thematically, of course, but the same characters even appear in more than one section. For anyone who has visited Pompeii, memorable archaeological remains form the historical springboard for each part of the novel. Not only does the storytelling resonate, readers in the know will find credible connections to material evidence open to view at the ruins of Pompeii itself. Finally, the trajectory of the story is very touching--not in a cloyingly sentimental way, but in a convincingly human way. A DAY OF FIRE is an excellent read. I recommend it without reservation!
Top reviews from other countries
- Diane Melanson-BlakeReviewed in Canada on April 26, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully historical. Well developed characters.
I hated coming to the end.
- JPSReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid and apocalyptic
This is a splendid novel – in fact a collection of six inter-related stories of six different characters by six different authors and their perspectives during the catastrophic destruction of Pompeii in AD 79. All of the stories are superb, largely because the characterisation is excellent. I do happen to have my favourites, although this is because I liked and sympathised with some characters more than with others, not because some stories are weaker than others. Some of the characters are historical. Others are fictional. In both cases, however, the authors have been extremely careful and worked hard to make them historically plausible. Unsurprisingly then, I am also going to give this book a highly deserved five stars.
My favourite character is one of the historical ones – that of old admiral Pliny the Elder who, on learning of the disaster, set out with his ships and died when attempting to rescue the population, with the story being told by his nephew and adopted son, Pliny the Younger (“the Son”). The sober style, with plenty of suppressed emotion, with which his nephew tells the story makes all the more moving.
One of my favourite stories, the saddest of all in my view, is “the Mother”. This is partly because it is based on some of the archaeological findings in one of the houses of Pompeii and on the remains of thirteen human bodies found in this villa in particular. It is also because the narrative shows some of the characters exhibiting “Roman behaviours” and in particularly desperately clicking on to the shreds of their dignity during their last moments. Finally, it is because it shows (and so does a couple of the other stories) why so many got trapped and failed to flee early enough, believing that it was just another earthquake that they could ride out.
Two of my other favourite characters were the fictional Senator Norbanus and the no less fictional Diana, the eccentric scion of the Cornelii, both of which appear in several stories (and I other stories written by the author) but are mainly displayed here in “The Senator”. Another great story is Ben Kane’s “The Soldier” which focuses on a retired legionary and his maimed comrade in arms and gives a rather grim idea of what could happen to these once their service days were over. Also grim is “the Whore”, with the main characters – two sisters – illustrating “sexploitation” but also how laws could be abused and ignored unless you had a powerful protector or relations to help you.
Perhaps the most valuable thing about this book is the rather superb and vivid image of Roman society during the Early Roman Empire that it conveys. It was a deeply unequal society where the poor suffered and were exploited and where the rich and/or powerful could - and often did - abuse their power and get away with it. A remarkable piece of collective team writing that I cannot recommend enough. A MUST read.
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LyannaReviewed in Spain on August 3, 2017
4.0 out of 5 stars Muy Recomendable!
Me gusto mucho, en mi opinion, un poco corto, quiza sera porque me encantan las novelas historicas y siempre me quedo con ganas de mas. Admirable como las vidas de todos los personajes representados en el libro por diferentes autores acaban encontrandose de un modo u otro en la historia. Muy entretenido y ameno aunque tambien con un sabor agridulce por la terrible tragedia que tuvo lugar en Pompeya y se llevo tantas vidas.
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in Australia on January 1, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Just a normal day until the volcano fully awoke.
By it's very subject matter Pompeii lends itself to tales of tragedy and escape.
The authors manage to produce a seemless work tying a cast of characters together.
Most characters are inspired from historical and archaelogical records.
- Francisco PadillaReviewed in Mexico on January 12, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic and Incredibly Touching
Talking about bravery, courage, human feelings, love, despair, hope and loses, would be poor and insufficient to celebrate the greatness of this novel with multiple fathers and mothers,,,,