After my first reading twenty years ago, I just finished re-reading Geraldine Brooks’ beautiful historical novel, Year of Wonders. Surprisingly, I had forgotten most of the plot, and so I read it anew, with a fresh set of eyes, and without bias. It is a lyrical, inspirational story of resurrecting hope and life from the bowels of death and despair.
The novel is based on the real-life village of Eyam in Derbyshire, England in 1666, the Year of the Plague. On advice of their rector, the villagers decided to self-isolate to avoid spreading the disease to other surrounding villages. Their act was heroic in its resolve, especially given the inevitable hardships and tragedy they consequently faced. (For every person aboveground, two lay below ground by the end of the terrible year).
Still, Anna Frith, the novel’s intelligent and compassionate protagonist, manages to survive and thrive, even after losing her husband to a mining accident, and burying her two young sons shortly later, after they succumb to the plague. Together with the rector's wife, she learns how to cultivate herbs for healing purposes, and even steps in to midwife young mothers - all in sharp contrast to some of the superstitious acts the other villagers, in their ignorance, follow in an attempt to ward off the plague.
The reader roots for Anna and her friend, Elinor Mompellion, who courageously seek to spread healing, information, and comfort among their villagers wherever possible. Brooks’ writing is lovely in its quaint seventeenth century language and phrasing and vivid descriptions. What’s more, the tale is relevant to our current events, if only to put them in perspective, for what the citizens of the fictional English town endured between the “apple-picking season” in 1665 and the return of that autumn season in 1666 was far worse.
Year of Wonders is truly exemplary of historical fiction at its best: accurate in its detail, moving and lyrical in its language, and deeply character driven, with a protagonist who struggles against external events and also faces internal dilemmas that ultimately shape the way s/he perceives the world.
At its core, Year of Wonders is a tale of survival, hope, compassion, and embracing life. Highly recommended during our own turbulent times!