“A brilliant book! A learned guide to life in Pompeii both in the Roman past and the twenty-first century, deftly weaving the ancient with the modern, the personal with the historical. The end result is a fascinating, affable, and constantly illuminating exploration of Pompeii as an idea and as an archaeological site but also as a home for thousands of Roman people from all walks of life.”

Emma Southon, author of "A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"

"This is not just the best book on Pompeii I’ve ever read—it’s the best book on the glorious realities of archaeology itself. Zuchtriegel will surely inspire a whole new generation in the field with his blend of knowledge, experience and boundless passion. For this reader . . . well, it has left me panting to revisit Pompeii with the new, excited eyes that this magnificent book has given me.”

Stephen Fry, actor, producer, and author of "Troy"

“Zuchtriegel has brought us an experimental, personal, moving, engaging account of Pompeii. He courageously shows that archaeology is not a dry science, but rather one driven by the personal experience and passions of the archeologist. This book reveals the excitement of new excavations at Pompeii while serving as a deeply personal testament to Zuchtriegel’s background and upbringing, his love of music, his path to becoming an archaeologist.”

Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, author of "Herculaneum: Past and Future"

“The Buried City tells the story of Zuchtriegel’s memorable personal journey to taking charge at Pompeii, along the way revealing how he’s righting the wrongs of his predecessors and presiding over the new and remarkable discoveries at this greatest of archaeological sites.”

Guy de la Bédoyère, author of "Populus"

“A thoughtful, revelatory and above all deeply human account of life—and death—by the director of the most awe-inspiring archaeological site on the planet. Zuchtriegel describes the realities of his profession with such honesty and verve.” 

Daisy Dunn, author of "In the Shadow of Vesuvius: A Life of Pliny"

“Zuchtriegel makes the familiar magical. He challenges us to transform our relationship with the past, and shows us a new, far more satisfying, way to think about Pompeii and its people.”

Dan Snow, historian and television presenter

“Fantastic! Hugely informative, clever, thoughtful and playful (like all my favorite archeologists).”

Natalie Haynes, author of "Divine Might" and "Pandora’s Jar"