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. As she struggles to survive and grow, a year of catastrophe becomes instead annus mirabilis, a 'year of wonders.' 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.

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. 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. GradeSaver, 5 January 2016 Web.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. Next Section Year of Wonders Summary Buy Study Guide How To Cite in MLA Format Jessica LeAnne Jones. Many reviewers commended the story for its journalistic approach to history, since Brooks had found a humanizing angle that enabled her to dig deep into the story and flesh out her characters with surprising clarity. Year of Wonders received much praise after it was initially published. While her interest in this field grows from necessity, Anna nevertheless thrives because of her inquisitive and discerning mind. Brooks also takes care to portray the village’s religious and superstitious leanings alongside Anna’s interest in medicinal science. Accusations of witchcraft and severe punishments for infidelity are starkly illuminated. Yet as more of their neighbors die, Anna and Elinor Mompellion find it harder to keep up their spirits high: so many people are losing their faith and turning to superstitious means to cure themselves.Īlready a vivid story about the plague, Year of Wonders also gives striking insight into the treatment of women during the seventeenth century.

Michael Mompellion, the minister, decides that it is best to quarantine the village in order to keep other towns safe. After a boarder inadvertently brings the plague with him from London, the disease quickly spreads to families throughout the village. The story is told from the point of view of Anna Frith, a young housekeeper who works for the town minister and his wife. This novel is based on the true story of the village of Eyam, which isolated itself after becoming infected with the bubonic plague in 1666. It was published in 2011 and was chosen as both a New York Times and a Washington Post Notable Book. Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague was written by author and journalist Geraldine Brooks.

A year of wonders