**“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.
Filled with historical info.
I love her writing and the humanity, often in the midst of tragic circumstances, that is found. She gives complex characters and vivid historical context.
All you ever wanted to know about the plague years and the people who survived them. Wonderful historical look into a tragic time in humanity.
A page turner even when the writer used ancient terminology that I wasn’t familiar with. A good story!
Proof that the push for women’s rights was alive and well over 300 years ago without today’s articulation around the issues.
This book takes you into the lives of ordinary people who live through extraordinary times, coping with the Black Plague. A must read.
The writer was amazingly gifted.
I found this both informative and a great story
Very well written! A pleasure to read.
This tale of a village during the great plague builds the portrait of a community so very human yet extraordinary in that they cut themselves off from the surrounding area to keep the plague from spreading through England. You get attached to the characters and their outcomes.
This was my first Geraldine Brooks book and I loved it! It’s like reading a BBC period piece.
Year of Wonders is a well-written book by the highly acclaimed Geraldine Brooks. It gives a historical backdrop of the 1665 plague in England and how it affected characters in a small village aways from London. Excellent, interesting characters abound. Highly recommended.
What a wonderful book. A moving and thoughtful novel.
One of the most amazing, unusual and original books I’ve ever read. Hard to describe, but rest assured, a treasured little novel in my permanent, never to be removed, special bookcase.
Wonderfully written historical novel. Characters memorably developed in a difficult era in human existence. Loved reading every word.
Powerful and beautiful story. Geraldine Brooks creates a world of wonder and you are there in it.
Historical fiction
Not as good as People of the Book or Caleb’s Crossing, both which I loved. But, the story is heartbreaking and historically important, especially in this age when people forget how deadly infectious diseases can be. Some of the descriptions might be too graphic for people who aren’t comfortable with medical details of what happens to the body from the plague.
As a nurse and a lover of historical fiction, I enjoyed this book. Interesting to learn about the Plague. The story had some strong female characters, and some interesting, unpredictable twists. It was a little weighty at times in religion but appropriate for the time frame.
At first I wasn’t sure the book was going to be worth reading; but after reading just a few pages, I found myself wanting to read more and more. Then I couldn’t put the book down! The characters were very interesting; the times were unusual and very difficult. But I was fascinated by all I was reading!
If you ever wondered what the plague was like, this is your book.