**“Plague stories remind us that we cannot manage without community . . . Year of Wonders is a testament to that very notion.” – The Washington Post
An unforgettable tale, set in 17th century England, of a village that quarantines itself to arrest the spread of the plague, from the author The Secret Chord and of March, winner of the Pulitzer Prize**
When an infected bolt of cloth carries plague from London to an isolated village, a housemaid named Anna Frith emerges as an unlikely heroine and healer. Through Anna’s eyes we follow the story of the fateful year of 1666, as she and her fellow villagers confront the spread of disease and superstition. As death reaches into every household and villagers turn from prayers to murderous witch-hunting, Anna must find the strength to confront the disintegration of her community and the lure of illicit love. As she struggles to survive and grow, a year of catastrophe becomes instead annus mirabilis, a “year of wonders.”
Inspired by the true story of Eyam, a village in the rugged hill country of England, Year of Wonders is a richly detailed evocation of a singular moment in history. Written with stunning emotional intelligence and introducing “an inspiring heroine” (The Wall Street Journal), Brooks blends love and learning, loss and renewal into a spellbinding and unforgettable read.
The first part was an interesting account of the 1665/66 Plague – but the ending veered off in a totally different direction and genre. ???
A wonderful book. Very informative of an historical time and also appropriate topic for our current pandemic.
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks is so realistic that I felt I was back in 1666 during the plague. The well developed characters and the multiple situations that come up all would be similar to what would happen but written so perfectly that it was almost like reading a diary! So incredible! Well done!
Beautifully written but the epilogue jarred so four stars not five.
An interesting read about the plague in the sixteenth century, especially in light of the pandemic we are facing today. Many similar situations and human reactions to the pandemic.
Enlightening, I listened to the recorded book when Sirius had a book channel and they quit running the channel and I did not hear the end of the book. So I purchased it and started from the beginning. Wonderful book
What a terrible time for people to be dealing with the plague and yet people found a way and persevered.
This is a dry, but historically interesting account of the 1666 deadly plague in a community outside London. Told from a young widow’s point of view, in 17th century dialect, it focuses mainly on religious and superstitious beliefs, and describes symptoms and patterns of the disease.
What a good book The characters are fascinating, the outcome sad but rings true.
Historically informative.
Generally, I know when I’m in a good book by the end of the first paragraph. So it was with Year of Wonders–and I felt this thrill of pleasure knowing I had the whole story in front of me. Also, I listened to this and Brooks was extraordinary in her presentation. Like a singer, every one of her consonants could be heard on the last beat.
A few thoughts: The protagonist, Anna, is a 21st-century woman; she is not of her times. So much of the rest of the story rang true to its time, I have no doubt that Brooks could have given Anna a contemporary psyche. I wonder, tho if Anna would have been as engaging if she were a 17th-century barely-lettered woman. We moderns may not have been able to live in a mind from so long ago for so many pages. I was glad that the Rector was given back to the 17th century at the end.
Spoiler:
Many have commented on the deus a machina ending. I could only see it as Brooks’ subversion of her own subversion. Up until the epilogue, the story had its 21st century things to say about men, men’s control of women’s bodies, and religion. But then she is brought into paradise by a beneficient polygamous Muslim patriarch. Too funny.
Thanks I thought this was an interesting book about the plague. It was amazing what people went through in this small town. Those who survived and helped others we’re rememberable.
Good historical fiction is hard to find. This is a winner.
Do NOT miss this book! Wonderful characters, wonderful story telling – tragic as the time this story depicts was, I loved everything about it and wished it wouldn’t end.
One of my favorite authors! Everyone in my book club said they very much enjoyed it. It made this historical time come alive.
This was an amazing story that chronicled a year in the life of Anna Frith from 1665-1666 during a plague outbreak in her small town in England, far from London. I really enjoyed the story and found myself caught up in it. I’ll be thanking my cousins wife for letting me borrow it. I recommend this to those that like a story that is fictional but based on true events. Again, all I can say is “amazing”. Geraldine Brooks did a fine job bringing Anna and the other characters to life and in portraying the beliefs of simple folks at that time. Things that many would scoff at today.
Probably the favorite book I have read all year
The author is a master story teller. Inspired me to read others by her.
Don’t let the title fool you. 1665-1666 was NOT a wonderful year. This book describes an English village during the plague. The author did her research and turned actual events into a gripping novel.
Just fascinating.
A good read. The plot twist in this historical novel about the plague made it even better.