In 1666 the small village of Eyam was beset by the plague when an infected bolt of cloth brought the deadly disease from London. As the disease spread from house to house the villagers didn’t want to believe that the plague had fallen at their door, but eventually they recognized the peril of their situation and decided to voluntarily quarantine themselves. For more than a year they didn’t leave the boundaries of their town, relying on supplies delivered from the outside for survival. When the plague finally abated 16 months later only 83 villagers survived out of a population of 350. “Year of Wonders” is based on this real-life story.

Told through the eyes of a housemaid named Anna Firth, her eloquent, empathic voice unabashedly describes the many faces of death. From those who are infected with the disease and fall prey to that lethal flush of rose petals blooming beneath the skin, to the family members left behind, to the charlatans who swindle mothers for worthless charms promised to heal their children. As the plague continues its assault, Anna is forced to conquer grief, social stigma and her own fears in order to help her friend Elinor, the rector’s wife, minister to those in need. Along the way she acquires an impressive about of herbal knowledge and becomes a healer in her own right. Overall this was a gripping tale that made me search my days for extra moments I could spend with Anna’s story.

The only reason I gave this book 4 instead of 5 stars is because the epilogue felt disjointed, and in that sense took something away from the rest of the story. Nevertheless, I highly recommend checking this novel out from your local library and spending some time in 17th century England.