So a few weeks back, Geraldine Brooks came to Lexington with her husband Tony Horowitz (who is also an award-winning author) to talk about historical writing. Most of their presentation was a question and answer period, and I took the chance to express my disappointment with the character assassination of Rector Mompellion at the end of Year of Wonders. I asked whether she just got to the end and needed some resolution, or if she'd planned the twist all along.
Her response was essentially that it had nothing to do with the Reverend. Rather, she wanted Elizabeth to end up in a warm, happy place. And that wasn't possible in the town of Eyam, because (remaining true to the historic record) the town would be essentially desolate for the next 100 years. So she needed some vehicle to drive Elizabeth away, and chose one she felt was most consistent with the rest of the novel. The actual account of her ship being captured by pirates and her being taken captive to the Barbary coast is also based on the historic account of two sisters who set out from Ireland and ended up being sold for slaves in Northern Africa (thanks to their ship being captured by pirates). But, due to their ability as healers, they were accorded positions of honor within the household of a wealthy merchant in the area.
Anyway, just thought it was interesting. It was clear, after listing to Ms. Brooks talking about her books for an evening, that she's a very thoughtful and intelligent and conscientious author, but that what she put into Year of Wonders was quite different from what I got out of it.
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