Engrossingly mischievous... Beard takes cheeky, undisguised delight in puncturing the many fantasies and misconceptions that have grown up around Pompeii–sown over the years by archaeologists and classicists no less than Victorian novelists and makers of 'sword and sandal' film extravaganzas. While many scholars build careers through increasingly elaborate reconstructions of the ancient world, Beard consistently stresses the limits of our knowledge, the precariousness of our constructs and the ambiguity or contradiction inherent in many of our sources. 'There is hardly a shred of evidence for any of it' serves as her battle cry, and it's a noble one... This is a wonderful book, for the impressive depth of information it comfortably embraces, for its easygoing erudition and, not least, for its chatty, personable style.–Steve Coates "New York Times Book Review" (3/15/2009 12:00:00 AM)