Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge
Geraldine Brooks was a successful journalist before she became a novelist, even winning the Overseas Press Club of America's Hal Boyle Award for best daily newspaper or wire service reporting from abroad. That's official baller status, right there. (Source)
Year of Wonders is loosely based on the real story of Eyam, England. On the last Sunday of every August, the village still holds a celebration called Plague Sunday to honor that tumultuous time in the town's history. Pour one out for your ancestors, peeps. (Source)
Although the novel is based on a real village called Eyam, the storylines and character names vary from the minimal historical account. For example, the real Mompellion is named Mompesson. Well, at least she managed to find an equally ridiculous name. (Source)