THERE are eerie parallels between the Covid-19 pandemic world we live in and the remote village of Eyam in the Derbyshire Dales, United Kingdom.

Quarantine and a self-imposed lockdown were instituted in the English village in 1665, when a flea-infested bundle of cloth caused an outbreak of the bubonic plague, or Black Death. The village remained under siege for 14 months, where more than 250 people died as a result of the plague.

The bravery and the sacrifice of the villagers, to lock themselves away in isolation, was what inspired eMdloti author, Anna Jensen’s first novel, Given Lives.

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“When Covid-19 was discovered, the story of the villagers of Eyam was thrust into the headlines from media houses around the world. It was a story I was familiar with, having grown up in England and visited the village several times. That is what inspired my first fictional novel. I was originally going to write a non-fiction piece, but the more research and writing I did, the more I realised fiction would be a better medium to carry the story.

“Aside from the main protagonist, Kitty Allenby, the other characters in the book are based on real people. It really is frightening to think what the villagers went through, the fear and the uncertainty they faced. A brave decision was taken to quarantine the village at the time, to prevent the plague spreading to the nearby towns of Sheffield and Bakewell. I think readers will also be able to see the parallels between the world as we know it now and the village in 1665. To think that their stories are still being told 350 years later, it’s mind-blowing,” she said.

As part of her research, Jensen also contacted the museum and the church based at the village.

“I wrote the book during the pandemic and while the country was red flagged by the UK. I had to rely on online sources like the Eyam Museum. I actually contacted both the church and the museum and that’s when I was introduced to Joan Plant. She is a descendant of one of the survivors of the plague and she was kind enough to read my story and give me feedback. I’ve kept my story accurate to first-hand accounts of what transpired in Eyam, and the feedback I’ve received both from the UK and South Africa has been fantastic,” she said.

Given Lives is available on Amazon and those interested can also email hello@annajensen.co.za to purchase a copy of the book. Jensen has also just released a Christmas novella, A Candle for Christmas, which is also available now.

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