Ashen Sky: The Letters of Pliny the Younger on the Eruption of Vesuvius

Illustrated by Barry Moser

Barry Moser's extraordinarily detailed and evocative relief engravings decorate this translation of Pliny the Younger's two famous letters to Tacitus about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 and the death of his uncle, Pliny the Elder. Printed in black and white, the engravings are works of art that illustrate various descriptions in the letters.

The text includes a brief description of the eruption of the volcano, concise biographies of Tacitus and of both Plinys, and a summary of how the texts of the two letters have survived until today.

Since 1970 Barry Moser has provided wood engravings for more than a hundred books, including editions of Moby Dick, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and the King James Version of the Bible. His works are found in museums throughout the world as well as in rare-book rooms and special collections of libraries.