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The Last Days of Pompeii (1834) is a novel by Edward Bulwer Lytton.

• See also Quo Vadis? (1895) -- The Sign of the Cross (1895) -- The Robe (1942) -- The Silver Chalice (1952)

Abstract

Hugely popular novel used its characters to contrast, not uncritically, the decadent culture of first-century Rome with both older cultures (Greece and Egypt) and coming trends (Christianity). The novel was inspired by the success of the opera, L’ultimo giorno di Pompei (1825) by Italian composer Giovanni Pacini, and of the painting The Last Day of Pompeii (1833) by Russian painter Karl Briullov, which Bulwer-Lytton had seen in Milan. Although these works had made no reference to Christianity, they suggested that the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE could also provide a climactic and providential setting to a “Christian” story.

"Edward Bulwer-Lytton was a prominent English writer and politician in the 19th century. Bulwer-Lytton is notable for being one of the first authors to earn a considerable fortune from just his books. Bulwer-Lytton also was responsible for famous sayings such as "pursuit of the almighty dollar" and "the pen is mightier than the sword". Some of his most famous works include The Last Days of Pompeii, The Coming Race, and Zanoni. The Last Days of Pompeii, published in 1834, is a historical novel that was inspired by Karil Briullov's famous painting with the same title. The book follows the lives of Glaucus and Ione, two Greeks who are set to marry one another. Will they escape Pompeii before it is destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius?"--Publisher description.

Editions

Published in London, England: Richard Bentley, (1834).

Translations

Translated in all major European languages.

• Die letzten Tage von Pompeji = The Last Days of Pompeii (1834 @1834 Lytton / Schöttlen), novel (German ed.)
• Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei = The Last Days of Pompeii (1835-36 @1834 Lytton / Cusani), novel (Italian ed.)
• Les derniers jours de Pompéi = The Last Days of Pompeii (1837 @1834 Lytton / Pichot), novel (French ed.)

Adaptations

• The Last Days of Pompeii (1835 Buckstone), play

• Jone; o, Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei (1858 Petrella), opera

• The Last Days of Pompeii (1898 Paul), short film

• The Last Days of Pompeii (1900 Booth), film

• Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei (1908 Maggi/Ambrosio), film

• The Last Days of Pompeii (1912 Sousa), music

• Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei (The Last Days of Pompeii / 1913 Caserini), feature film

• Jone; o, Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei (1913 Vidali), film

• Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei (1925 Gallone), film

• The Last Days of Pompeii (1935 Schoedsack), feature film

• Los últimos días de Pompeyo (1940 Portas), film

• Les derniers jours de Pompei / Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei (The Last Days of Pompeii / 1950 L'Herbier, Moffa), feature film

• Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei (1959 Bonnard/Leone), film

• The Last Days of Pompeii (1984 Hunt), film

• Pompei (2007), TV miniserie

• Pompeji (2008), musical

See also:

• Anno 79: La distruzione di Ercolano (1962 Parolini), film

External links

• Wikipedia.en