Technology Archives - C.L.R. Peterson, Author

Two Days to Disaster: The Genius of Robert Harris’s Pompeii

by CLR Peterson | Mar 18, 2026 | Book review, Historical novels, Italy, Technology

Greetings, Reading Friend!

Whatever you’ve heard about Pompeii’s disaster from feature films or documentaries, set it aside.

What if the fate of Pompeii depended not on a soldier or emperor, but on an engineer racing against a mountain ready to explode?

In Pompeii, Robert Harris begins his novel just two days before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 and concludes it only four days later. This compressed time frame immediately creates tension, while the strong characters, vivid descriptions, rich historical detail, and masterful suspense reveal Harris’s skill as a storyteller.

Why read a novel set so long ago and far away?

The characters reveal universal human truths, giving readers heroes to root for and villains to despise
Vivid Details, especially descriptions of Vesuvius and the Roman aqueducts, bring the era to life
Enhanced Perspective: If you’ve ever visited Pompeii or plan to do so, this story will enrich your understanding of life in the area near Pompeii and Vesuvius.

Brief Summary:

In A.D. 79, the huge aqueduct (Acqua Augusta) that supplies fresh water to towns across the Bay of Naples begins to fail, and its water engineer disappears.
Attilius, a young Roman engineer, is sent to repair the aqueduct. He must find and replace the faulty part before the reservoir (Piscina Mirabilis) runs dry and the towns lose their water supply in the scorching summer heat.
Arriving in Pompeii, he encounters corruption and powerful enemies, with few local allies to assist him.
He struggles not only to restore the water supply, but to stay alive, especially as Mount Vesuvius awakens, with all its volcanic fury.

Major Characters:

Marcus Attilius Primus (Aquarius)—protagonist, young engineer in charge of the huge aqueduct (Acqua Augusta) that supplied water to towns across the Bay of Naples

Ampliatus—most powerful man in Pompeii; he’s a former slave who made his fortune after the previous volcanic eruption; he attempts to embody the perfect aristocrat through power, imagination, wit, and style

Corax—overseer of laborers who assist Attilius with aqueduct repairs; he challenges and mocks Attilius from the start

Corelia—adolescent daughter of Ampliatus; she recruits Attilius to save a slave whom her father has unjustly sentenced to a torturous death

Pliny—aged admiral of Rome’s naval fleet in the Bay of Naples and a prodigious author (of 37-volume Natural History), he supports Attilius’s quest to repair the aqueduct

Strengths:

Strong plot combining both intelligence and action
Skillful portrayal of suspense and tension
Unique, relatable characters

Weakness:

To be fully appreciated and understood, the novel requires readers’ attention to the basic principles of aqueducts and volcanoes

Content review:

Violence is graphic in a few places; Occasional coarse language and non-consensual intimacy

My recommendation:

If you favor suspenseful, masterfully-written historical novels, and you’re willing to read a bit ‘into the weeds’ to understand key details, you’ll enjoy Pompeii as much as I did.

Reader, can you share a favorite novel or work of non-fiction about Pompeii?

Arrivederci/ Until next time,

Colleen
clrpeterson.com

Heroes, Kings, Cannons–Twists in Historical Fiction

by CLR Peterson | Nov 7, 2020 | Book review, England, Historical novels, Technology

We love to read novels that keep us turning pages, but what keeps you reading? Maybe it’s:

A hero/heroine you identify with and root for
A villain you love to hate
An historical personality (king, queen, pope, rebel) you enjoy observing ‘in action’

But how often does technology drive a novel’s plot, influence the story’s winners and losers, and keep us on the edge of our seats?

Maybe you’ve read a fascinating novel or seen a movie with a plot involving technology, such as:

Enigma encryption device used by Germany (and decrypted by Britain and its allies) during World War II
Wright brothers’ airplane (1903)
Printing press (1440)
Oil painting (~1410)
Compass (in wide use by 1300s)
Magnifying lenses (1200s for weak-sighted, 1500s-1600s for microscopes and telescopes)

Recently, I discovered a fascinating new novel set in the reign of England’s Henry VIII, in which new cannons designed in Italy played a central role in the plot.

Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon: The Cannon Conspiracy

My brief review:

King Henry VIII of England orders a new type of Italian cannon to protect his life, family, and reign. Although this novel’s premise may sound dry and technical, it develops into an intriguing plot.
The story is told from the point of view of the heroine, a young Italian woman who accompanies the cannons to England. She turns out to be a sharp-eyed sleuth who turns her attention to a mystery that proves key to Henry’s reign.
Along the way, I learned more about the motivations of Henry’s enemies, both domestic and foreign, who sought to destroy him.
The author’s well-developed portrayal of Katherine of Aragon especially intrigued me—a marked contrast from common stereotypes about her.

An interesting and enjoyable read!

Readers, please share your favorite novels involving a technological innovation!