Geraldine Brooks' Year of Wonders offers a gripping and emotional portrayal of a village struck by the plague. Critics praise Brooks' evocative prose and rich historical detail. Some find the plot's melodramatic moments detract from realism, but the compelling characters and vivid setting resonate powerfully. A blend of historical depth and human resilience.

Readers captivated by historical fiction with strong female protagonists and tales of resilience will appreciate Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. Fans of Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale or Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace will find this poignant story set during the 1666 plague in England equally engaging.

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks follows 18-year-old Anna Frith, a widow in the English village of Eyam during the 1666 bubonic plague. The town's rector, Michael Mompellion, leads a voluntary quarantine to prevent the spread, and Anna serves her community alongside Mompellion and his wife, Elinor. As the plague decimates the village, Anna confronts profound questions about faith, humanity, and her own resilience. This book contains child death, extreme violence towards women, detailed descriptions of traumatic births, and painful death.

Melancholic / Mysterious / Contemplative / Dark

Geraldine Brooks

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

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Overview

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Year of Wonders Summary

Background

Year of Wonders Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Leaf-Fall, 1666”

Part 1 Year of Wonders Part 1 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Spring, 1665”

Part 2, Chapters 2-5

Year of Wonders Part 2, Chapters 2-5 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 6-10

Year of Wonders Part 2, Chapters 6-10 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 11-14

Year of Wonders Part 2, Chapters 11-14 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “Leaf-Fall 1666”

Part 3-Epilogue

Year of Wonders Part 3-Epilogue Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

Year of Wonders Character Analysis

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Themes

Year of Wonders Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Year of Wonders Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

Year of Wonders Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

Year of Wonders Essay Topics

Year of Wonders

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Year of Wonders?

Reading Age

Book Details