Book is based on a true story of a town where, amazingly, many survived the plague. Plague was nearly always fatal during this time period. I was hesitatnt to read it based on the subject matter, but it is a story of survival during a very horrific time. because so many villagers survived, their descendants were studied to determine why. The results became the subject of a PBS documentaty.

posted Feb 25, 2007 at 12:52PM

In 1665, Anna Frith is an eighteen-year-old mother and widow in the rural English village of Eyam. Anna is befriended by the vicar and his wife, who teaches her how to read. The vicar convinces Anna to take in lodgers, but when a tailor from London boards at Anna’s house, he brings with him more than rent money. Hidden in one of his bundles of fabric is an infected flea. The flea bites a rat, the rat makes contact with a villager, and the Black Plague is suddenly sweeping through the remote town. The village voluntarily shuts itself off from the rest of the world to contain the horrible disease (a fact based on the true-life story of the real village of Eyam). For the rest of the year, we live with young Anna as she experiences first-hand the devastating effects of disease, death, and despair. Year of Wonders is an elegant tale for all its heartbreak and Anna’s story is a triumph over human tragedy in all its forms. Author Geraldine Brooks’ prose is lyrical even while she describes the worst that the plague brings out in people; her treatment of Anna’s intelligence and grace results in a compelling portrait. It’s not always an easy book to read, but it is a fine example of historical fiction and the lessons learned from the past.

posted Jul 26, 2009 at 7:27PM

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