Kivrin knows everything about the Middle Ages - she's read all the books. She knows it's dangerous: cutthroats in the woods, witch hunts, cholera, and millions dying in the plague. For a young historian, it's fascinating...When Kivrin's tutors in Oxford's history lab finally agree to send her on an on-site study trip, she jumps at the chance to observe medieval life first-hand. But a crisis that strangely links the past and future leaves her stranded in the most deadly and terrifying era in human history, face to face with ...
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Kivrin knows everything about the Middle Ages - she's read all the books. She knows it's dangerous: cutthroats in the woods, witch hunts, cholera, and millions dying in the plague. For a young historian, it's fascinating...When Kivrin's tutors in Oxford's history lab finally agree to send her on an on-site study trip, she jumps at the chance to observe medieval life first-hand. But a crisis that strangely links the past and future leaves her stranded in the most deadly and terrifying era in human history, face to face with the heart-rending reality behind the statistics. And while she fights for her own life, Kivrin finds she has become an unlikely angel of hope in this dark time...Five years in the writing, Doomsday Book is a storytelling triumph. Connie Willis draws upon her understanding of the universalities of human nature to explore the timeless issues of evil, suffering and the indomitable will of the human spirit.
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Set not so far in the future, scientists have conquered time travel and are sending specialists back to observe certain events. Kivrin is destined to visit England BEFORE the Black Death strikes. She has the identity of a real person, learned the style of speech, had the vaccinations, got the clothes. But something goes wrong and she arrives at the wrong time and in the wrong place. And....while she is going through the portal, something slips through the other way, hitting the present day Oxford. I could not put this book down!
Voigtlandera
Feb 26, 2021
maybe my favorite book
I read this book a few years ago and recently re read it in 2020. Hits different during a real life pandemic but not in a bad way. REALLY surreal read right now. i love history and this book is full of it in a really interesting and unique way. It's heart breaking and very sympathetic to the characters. You really connect to them. Oh. I just love this book.
Donovan S
May 19, 2011
medevil times
One of the best books I have read in a long time, historical, factual, suspensful, wonderful. Transports you back in a close encounter with the black plague in all its horror.
Laura G
Dec 30, 2010
I so wanted it to be better!
I had a few weeks off from nursing school, and I thought that this would be a great way to unwind. Not so much. For me, there wasn't enough historical input or interesting science fiction. Both seemed lackluster to me. Overall, a very unsatisfying read.
William C
Oct 7, 2010
Good Book
Have been slightly busy to read the entire book. Have a lot of books to read right now. But, However I will find this one very interesting. William
