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Year of Wonders
Year of Wonders
Author: Geraldine Brooks
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 v...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780142001431
ISBN-10: 0142001430
Publication Date: 4/30/2002
Pages: 336
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 899

4 stars, based on 899 ratings
Publisher: Penguin Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Year of Wonders on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 20
This is a very engrossing story told in amazing detail. I highly recommend the book but be warned - it is one horrific tragedy after another, and the author spares none of the gory details.
GusNBuster avatar reviewed Year of Wonders on + 51 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 17
Fascinating, realistic portrayal of life in an English village during the plague. Wonderful read and very well written & researched.
reviewed Year of Wonders on
Helpful Score: 17
A beautifully written story of a young woman surviving through a year when the plague killed most of her friends and family.
It's based on a true story - the author read of a small village in England where the people decided to quarantine themselves to avoid spreding the disease to neighboring towns and villages. She built the character and other details around this framework.
I couldn't stop reading until I had fnished the book!
reviewed Year of Wonders on
Helpful Score: 9
This is a wonderful book. Well-written and moving. Note that all her research shows up in tangents to the plague. That isn't a bad thing, but the book is more a story of life during that time: mining, law enforcement, ideas on witchcraft, etc. I've read many books on the plaguefrom Defoe to Cantorbut it was interesting to see a broader take on life during that time.

If you like this one, you might like "1066: The Year of the Conquest." It is a history of the Norman invasion as experienced in one village.
reviewed Year of Wonders on + 174 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
What a simple life. Also makes you wonder, as I'm sure they did, why some were infected and others not. Have always heard about the plague but have never read a book where it made it so human. Recommend!!
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reviewed Year of Wonders on
This is one of my favorite books of all times. Beautiful story, beautifully written; historical fiction at its best. I have since continued to look for books by this same author. I highly recommend it!
reviewed Year of Wonders on
I thoroughly enjoyed this. At times, a little graphic in describing the plague, but overall wonderfully done.
reviewed Year of Wonders on + 102 more book reviews
A quick read about a horrible time. It draws you in without giving you too many horrid details.

You can read my complete review here.
lace23 avatar reviewed Year of Wonders on + 4 more book reviews
This book kept my attention from the entire time. I felt transported back to 1665 and the entire world was painted in vivid detail for me by the author. The ending seemed a little contrived but because I was so engrossed in the rest of the book I'm willing to believe the rest of it.

Encourage anyone who loves historical or speculative historical fiction to read this and contemplate their own actions if they were in Eyam.
reviewed Year of Wonders on + 15 more book reviews
i love historical fiction and found this book suspenseful and easily readable. i am also a geraldine brooks fan, in general.
reviewed Year of Wonders on + 3 more book reviews
I loved this book!

The description is delivered in great detail... the plague destroys Anna's life as she knew it. I enjoyed reading how she survived and went on to help others...

If you are looking for an easy read that takes you into the lives of a village that has the plague pass through you will definately want to read this one!


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