**“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.
A Year of Wonders is probably one of my favorite books. The story is engaging and has a historical background. The characters are well developed and I found myself caring about them. What I loved most about this book and why I continue to recommend it and reread it myself is the the prose. For me there is something in the words between the covers that is so beautiful even though something that is so not as the plague. The opening chapter transports me to the apple orchard. I can spell the smells of the apples and then ultimately the rotting smell. I love it. I am transported there through the whole book.
So well written!
I heard the end of this book being read on a radio program. I was hooked and had to find it. I searched and found it. I enjoyed it so much. I’m reading it again now.
One of my all time favorite books of historical fiction. I’ll read it again.
What I loved about this book was that it is written in beautiful prose. It has a lovely flow to it. Although the subject matter is tragic, the heroine of the book narrates the story and the reader is ever hopeful. Her brave and courageous spirit are inspiring.
Great book about depressing subject – gets you thinking. Beautifully and sensitively written.
Excellent book. Informative yet an interesting story.
A glimpse into a period in history that I have not read much about. Well written story.
This was an amazing book that was so well written that I have recommended it to many of my friends. It’s so wonderful to know that there are writers out there who truly know their craft — such a rarity these days when anyone can post a supposed “book” that has never seen an editor or proofreader. This one is not to be overlooked.
A wonderful historical fiction book, carefully researched, that delivers an emotional story of the events of that time.
Great reading
People really are capable of doing the right thing, as this village did during the plague years. When the plague came to their town, they closed their borders to keep from spreading it, relying on neighbors to leave food for them. The story is heartwarming and hopeful about a terrible time.
Fantastic. One of my favorites of all time.
This is an amazing book. The topic may be morbid, but the personal growth of the main character is inspiring.
Mostly I enjoyed the history behind the story, and the author was very good at making me care about the characters. But the ending was so off-the-wall that I wondered why I had bothered.
This book is well-researched, and its characters display so many human faults when nature deals a blow they can’t understand. Because science has conquered innumerable devastating diseases, we frequently take those miracles for granted and assume that will always be the case. This book is a realistic view of what it would be like to have NO weapons with which to fight such a tragedy as a plague. Ms. Brooks plunges the reader into such a circumstance, complete with the vernacular of the time, the position of women in that long ago era, the role of superstition and religion, and the helpless feeling of watching one’s parents, children, spouses, and friends die. I found myself marveling at this writer’s ability to carry her readers into these circumstances; when real life dictated that I had to put the book down briefly, I was almost surprised to find myself in the twenty-first century. Anna’s rebellion was audacious for her time—heck, for just about any time! I got to watch her developing realization that she could rely on nothing and no one but herself, as even the good reverend had feet of clay and was his own brand of sadist. I heartily recommend this shining, incredible example of the reason we read.
This is a fascinating historical novel. It was hard to put down.
Very interesting. Was recommended by a friend.
Beautifully written with well developed characters.
Geraldine Brooks never disappoints. She knows so much about the history of her subjects that the time and place come alive-I want to help her research her next book.