Preface . . 5
Introduction . . 7

SOMMA-VESUVIUS . . 9
BACKDROP FOR THE ERUPTION . . 41
PORTENTOUS EVENTS BETWEEN A.D. 62 AND 79 . . 71
THE ERUPTION . . 77
THE DISCOVERY OF HUMAN BODIES IN POMPEII . . 109
POMPEIAN STORIES AND LEGENDS . . 113

PRINCIPAL ERUPTIONS OF VESUVIUS FROM 25,000 YEARS AGO UNTIL 1631 . . 125
PRINCIPAL ERUPTIONS OF VESUVIUS IN THE PERIOD 1631-1944 . . 126
GLOSSARY OF VOLCANOLOGY . . 127
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY . . 129
INDEX . . 131