Feature Life Among the Ruins Tall tales of Pompeii’s lost lives form part of a long history of sensationalism. Virginia Campbell | Published in History Today Volume 71 Issue 11 November 2021 Detail from ‘The Death of Pliny the Elder’, 79 AD, coloured engraving, c.1880 © Getty Images. To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive. Buy Online Access Buy Print & Archive Subscription If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.