Year of Wonders

A Novel

By: Geraldine Brooks

Narrated by: Geraldine Brooks

Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

“Plague stories remind us that we cannot manage without community . . . Year of Wonders is a testament to that very notion.”–The Washington Post

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

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

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. Written with stunning emotional intelligence and introducing "an inspiring heroine" (The Wall Street Journal), Brooks blends love and learning, loss and renewal into a spellbinding and unforgettable read.

©2010 Penguin Audiobooks (P)2010 Geraldine Brooks

Critic reviews

"The novel glitters . . . A deep imaginative engagement with how people are changed by catastrophe."—The New Yorker

“Plague stories remind us that we cannot manage without community . . . Year of Wonders is a testament to that very notion . . . [The villagers] assume collective responsibility for combating the plague, rather than seeing it as an act of God before which they are powerless.”—The Washington Post

"Year of Wonders is a vividly imagined and strangely consoling tale of hope in a time of despair."—O, The Oprah Magazine

So sad what they went through!

Such a sad story but worth the listen. They had terrible things to deal with in 1665!

Audio is much different than the text

What did you like best about Year of Wonders? What did you like least?

It was kind of annoying how the audio version and the text did not match up. Even more odd is that the narrator is also the author, so I am puzzled why her audio version and text carry many discrepancies.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Year of Wonders?

Anna Firth's sex scene

Would you be willing to try another one of Geraldine Brooks’s performances?

Absolutely

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes, I would go see the movie version to this.

Great story, narration could be better

Good book with a devastating and unbelievable story. The narrator (author) has a beautifully sweet voice, but the narration difficult to listen to. It was very monotone, which didn’t sit well during the very dark and sad moments in the book that should/would require more emotion.

The lovely and brave main character makes enduring the sad story worth it!

I enjoyed this book so much, as much as you can enjoy a story about something so sad as a plague. It was tenderly told. The author’s delivery was dry but seemed to suit the time I guess. My family members would enter the room and ask “what are you listening to?” but once started, one has to love Anna! And I loved the way the story evolved, right up to the very end.

Favorite book of late!

Wonderful story with rich history! Loved that it was based in a real place and time and was anything but predictable!

Remarkable Tale

Year of Wonders is an apply named novel. The struggle to survive is told with a believable clarity that thrusts you into the shadow of the lives of the villagers.

Excellent HF

I enjoyed the story of plague and its impact on a small religious village in 17th century England. It was a dark and sad story with some heroes. I was not fond of narration which was flat and did not inhabit each character properly as a trained narrator does. I find that authors who read their own books often fall short with some exceptions. I hope Geraldine Brooks hires a professional narrator for any new books 🙏

Second Account of Eyam

I just visited the village of Eyam this past August. While there I purchased a book called Three, by Jennifer Jenkins. I didn’t realize when I chose to read Year of Wonders that it was the Eyam story. I thoroughly enjoyed Horse, also by Brooks, so I knew I would like her account of the Eyam plaque also.

Author poor narrator

I enjoyed the story and may read other books by this author but will not listen to one. The monotonous sound of her voice with little change in voice was difficult to get through.

Burn It All!!

I only had one all time favorite book before I read this, now I have two. I will remember this book for years to come. There are so many great passages in this book. I won't spoil the wonder of them for you by quoting them here. There is much sadness and suffering in the book so be warned. The author did a wonderful job of putting you in the middle of the plague epidemic. You can get at true sense of what it must been like for so many during that time. The story focuses around a housemaid named Anna and what the plague does to her family as well as the her village and the inhabitants. It held my interest from the first page until the last. I truly did not want it to end.