The Lost Voices of Pompeii: Life and Death on Pompeii's Final Day

Award-winning ancient historian, archaeologist, and social media sensation Dr. Jess Venner re-creates Pompeii's final day before Mount Vesuvius's eruption, revealing not just how its people died but how they lived.

While today the ruins of Pompeii stand silent and preserved in ash and stone, they were once home to a vibrant, bustling community made up of thousands of people whose lives were forever altered--or cut short--in the wake of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Through extensive research and vivid storytelling, leading expert Dr. Jess Venner goes beyond the devastation and unveils a city teeming with art, customs, and culture.

The Lost Voices of Pompeii follows ordinary citizens on what should have been an ordinary day: the newly freed Petrinus grapples with how to navigate his future in a town that isn't always welcoming; Julia Felix, a businesswoman, faces prejudice as she skirts traditional female roles; Amisusius, priest of the cult of Isis, struggles to balance politics and religion; among many other residents.

Their stories weave together and apart, until they cul­minate in the fateful event. Some will survive, but others will fall victim to the natural disaster.

Pompeii's story is often reduced to the scope of its tragedy, but Dr. Venner brings the focus back to the peo­ple themselves, capturing a civilization rich in history, traditions, and aspirations. A profound and immersive experience, The Lost Voices of Pompeii revives a people often overshadowed by death and destruction and tells a poignant tale of humanity and resilience.

Dr. Jess Venner is an award-winning ancient historian and archaeologist, recipient of the prestigious Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (University of Oxford) and the Rome Award (The British School at Rome), and an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, among other academic posts. A Trustee of the Herculaneum Society, she is also passionate about making ancient history accessible to her 166k followers on TikTok and 77k followers on Instagram, creating and sharing expert content via her platform @lifeinthepastlane_. Dr. Venner has appeared in publications such as The Times, The Mirror, The Daily Star, and Ancient History Magazine and has featured as a guest on various podcasts, including HistoryExtra and After Dark by HistoryHit. An up-and-coming presenter, Dr. Venner was recently nominated for Content Creator of the Year at the ITV bCreator Awards, Future Presenter at the New Voice Awards, and selected as one of the National Gallery's 200 Creators for their bicentenary.