Book excerpt: "The Last Days of Pompeii" - Pompeii, A.D. 79. Athenian nobleman Glaucus arrives in the bustling and gaudy Roman town and quickly falls in love with the beautiful Greek Ione. Ione's former guardian, the malevolent Egyptian sorcerer Arbaces, has designs on Ione and sets out to destroy their budding happiness. But will he succeed in his evil plot? Or, will the cataclysmic destruction of the city by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius be the end of all? And, what will happen to the love story of Glaucus and Ione? Read on!_x000D_ "Rienzi, Last of the Roman Tribunes" – Bulwer-Lytton has created a true masterpiece that inspired none other than the great Wagner to create his opera titled "Rienzi." Set during the Italian Renaissance period, in the 14th century, the story depicts the rise and fall of Rienzi, the beloved last Tribune of Rome and his lovely wife Nina. Intrigue dog this great man at every stage and backstabbers are always around the corner, but Reinzi towers above them all. However, his formidable nemesis, Walter de Montreal, will not let him go that easily..._x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_