"It's almost like being there"

Here's a unique "back-in-time" novel, written by an expert in Roman archaeology who is an accomplished story teller as well. Rebecca East combines her training in archaeology and her talent for telling a story and brings the reader into a Roman household near Pompeii in A.D. 61. The heroine, Miranda, is transported back in time by a group of Harvard researchers who have developed the means to do so. A signal device, imbedded in her arm, will bring her back anytime she wants. Her ability to speak Latin and her knowledge of ancient Rome, particularity Pompeii, makes her the perfect candidate.

She drops into the Mediterranean out of nowhere and gets tangled in a fish net. Hauled aboard by the startled fishermen, she surprises them with her unusual Latin accent, but she can converse with them. They sell her to a slave dealer, where she befriends Demetrius, who coaches her how to look unattractive to the wrong kind of buyer and attractive to the right kind. Both Miranda and Demetrius are purchased into the household of Marcus Tullius, a well- to-do resident of Vesuvius, a small village just outside Pompeii.

Rebecca East adroitly develops the main characters, Miranda, Demetrius, their master Marcus Tullius, his wife Holconia, their two children Marcus Jr., 14 and Tullia, 13. Three other slaves play significant roles in the novel: Alexander, the household steward, Iris, a beautiful 27 year old that Holconia sent to her husband after Tullia was born, and Cnaeus, the cook. Julia Felix plays a major role late in the novel. East creates a tender and charming interaction of Miranda and the other characters. She brings in scenes of courage, love, loyalty, selflessness, bravery and heroism. East's story would be interesting in any time period, but her placing the story in first-century Italy (with her knowledge of Roman history and archaeology) adds a charm that fascinates and educates. The reader gets an in-depth exposure to Roman life and customs.

Miranda is free to bail out any time, and, at times she is ready to do so, but her curiosity to see more of the undamaged Pompeii and to experience more of the Roman culture keeps her there. Eventually, as she gets to know and love the people, a decision to return becomes more and more difficult. Without spoiling the story for you, I can say that this novel will captivate you and make you wonder if you would actuate the device. Rebecca East has put together a fascinating story, not only about what life would be like in ancient Rome, but a story about characters who become alive in your mind.

Rebecca East is the pen name of an established professor and archaeologist who is conversant with the excavations at Pompeii and has, herself, worked on a "dig." She has a website www.rebecca-east.com where the reader can see some ancient art that formed a background for her novel. Many names of the fictional characters were borrowed from known names of people and families that really lived in Pompeii. This is Rebecca's first novel. We hope for more.

Reviewed by Maurice A. Williams
Posted May 21, 2003

Summary

When a time travel experiment goes wrong, Miranda is stranded in the first century Roman world. She is sold into slavery and becomes a servant to a wealthy Pompeiian family. Soon she is entangled in household relationships and rivalries. By telling stories, she changes their lives - and her own. This story blends adventure, romance, and fantasy in a gentle fable about the power of imagination.