Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague
“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.
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.
BUY THE BOOK
Join a book club that is reading Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague!
Community Reviews
There were things I loved and hated about this book. Generally appreciated the research of the time period and the discussions of the challenges that provided. The ending seemed to not really go with the rest of the book.
The book has its flaws—especially that ending—but there was still a lot to like. The narration was beautiful, and the characters were compelling. It raises thought-provoking questions about social responsibility, morality, isolation, and how family can be both a strength and a burden, changing everything. It won’t be a book for everyone, but I enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed the language and immersion in 1666-plague ridden England, but failed to understand the totally unexpected and unrelated ending
Very interesting book. The plot was interesting and the twists and turns were imaginative and kept the story fresh. I had some difficulty with the words used since I was unsure of the meaning of several of the words from that time.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.