Year of Wonders

In Year of Wonders, Geraldine Brooks takes an intimate look at a village outside London and illustrates the profound effects of a public health crisis on a small community, from the individual losses to the collective mourning and sense of crisis that crosses social and economic boundaries.

Although the villagers' choice to quarantine Eyam shows their dedication to defending nearby populations, it also strains ties and exposes underlying tensions. Though Mr. Mompellion urges them to remain hopeful, the high mortality rate and fear of contagion disintegrate social and communal ties. It isn’t long after the first casualties that the villagers search for a scapegoat and lynch the town healers, Mem and Anys Gowdie. People isolate themselves, and the community becomes fragmented as individuals seek to avoid infection. This breakdown in social cohesion sows seeds of insecurity and vulnerability, which Mompellion fails to address effectively.

Anna chronicles the decimation of Eyam’s population while also noting the subtle changes in the city. The drastic reduction in population leaves Eyam without most of their skilled workers and even robs them of their sexton. Children like Merry Wickford are orphaned and left to fend for themselves. Eyam is a mining town, and with no one to work the mines, the town stands to lose its industry as survivors leave in search of better opportunities or to escape the horrifying memories.