Year of Wonders

About this experience

COURSE FULL

Monday, 9:00 – 11:00 am     
April 13

CURIOUS MINDS BOOK AND JOURNAL CIRCLE
A unique gathering of curious minds to discuss scientific literature found in research-based journals or books.  Participants will review designated readings beforehand and discuss over coffee.

Year of Wonders
“Year of Wonders,” by Geraldine Brooks, is subtitled “A Novel of the Plague.” It’s a wonderful novel, with beautiful writing and vivid characters, bringing to life the time of the Black Death in 1666 England.  The book is a work of fiction inspired by the true story of the villagers of Eyam, Derbyshire, who tried to protect themselves from the Black Death by closing off all interaction with the outside world.  The infectious disease of the plague is still with us, and we’ll discuss the plague today, as well as recent insights into how the Black Death moved from Asia to Europe and then to the British Isles.  The novel deals with the way that individuals and communities react to terrifying existential threats like a pandemic; it’s an even more timely topic today, after the COVID-19 pandemic, than it was when the book was published in 2001. Reading and discussing this exceptional novel will give us an opportunity to talk about the similarities and differences between historical pandemics like the Black Death and more recent disease pandemics.

Refund Policy

To receive a refund, a written request must be received 3 business days before the first class. A $25 processing fee will be deducted from the refund. Cancellation requests received less than 3 business days before the first class but before the second meeting will receive a 50% refund.  ALL written requests should be emailed to emeritus@spartanstrategiesinc.org or mailed to the address above.