Relive the dramatic last day in Pompeii in this immersive story, based on the city’s real residents

We all know how the people of Pompeii died.

But what about how they lived?

Drawing on the latest archaeological discoveries, Dr Jess Venner brings the ancient streets to life through the eyes of those who lived, worked, loved and ultimately met their fate in Pompeii.

Along the way, Venner reveals a community more complex, diverse and human than we ever imagined. We meet Julia Felix, a successful female entrepreneur defying Roman convention; Petronus, a slave grappling with his future after gaining his freedom; politician Gaius Cuspius Pansa, who cements his power and prestige by hosting the Plebian Games at the amphitheatre; and many others.

Pompeii is remembered for its destruction, but here we discover the vibrant lives that came before. Richly evocative and immersive, The Lost Voices of Pompeii vividly recreates the final twenty-four hours before the eruption, reminding us exactly what – and who – was lost in 79 AD.

Dr Jess Venner is an award-winning ancient historian and archaeologist. An academic at the Institute of Classical Studies in London and an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, she is also passionate about making ancient history accessible through her TikTok @lifeinthepastlane_. She is a consultant for and features on the BBC documentary Pompeii: The New Dig, and has appeared in publications such as The Times, The Mirror, The Daily Star and Ancient History Magazine.