The Black Death

[chalkygirl]

One of my favourite books was 'Year of Wonders' by Geraldine Brooks. I'm a bit worried now that anything in the same genre wont hold a candle to that, you know how it is. But I finally have a few weeks off work and would love some recommendations. Has to be fiction and I tend to prefer female authors and a female protagonist.

Also keen to hear recommendations about medieval England too
Thanks in advance.

[MLE (Emily Cotton)]

Medieval England, try anything by Elizabeth Chadwick or Sharon Kay Penman. My favorite of the latter (and many others concur) is the first of her Welsh novels, Here Be Dragons.

Novels covering the black death (the first great plague, which was in 1347-51--Year of Wonders was set during a second occurrence in England, circa 16-early. --I'd have to look up the date.) try the much acclaimed bestseller, Katherine, by Anya Seton. Another universally acclaimed favorite.
Happy reading!

[Lisa]

I haven't read Year of Wonders yet so can't compare, but I absolutely second Sharon Kay Penman and Elizabeth Chadwick.

For novels set during the Black Death, off the top of my head, Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham was a good one. But it might be worth reading The Traitor's Daughter by the same author first, as characters and events from that novel are referenced in H&B (although if you know the history, you know what happened).

[Vanessa]

I can recommend Katherine Fremantle and Katherine Clements, as well as those mentioned above. A book i read this year and loved was The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton.

Have you visited Eyam where the Year of Wonders is set? It's very interesting to walk round as there are plaques on the houses where there were plague victims! There'S also a small museum. It's in a lovely part of the UK, too.