Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLozier, a Book Review

No one will forget the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Now imagine facing an even deadlier disease without modern medicine. The plague, or Black Death, killed an estimated 75 to 200 million people in Eurasia and North Africa from 1346 to 1353, wiping out nearly 60 percent of Europe’s population in its Bubonic, Pneumonic, and Septicemic forms. Lacking modern medical knowledge and resources, physicians watched helplessly as thousands died. Imagine the terror they must have felt.

Eleanore of Avignonby Elizabeth DeLozier is set in late 1347 in Avignon, France. The main character, young Eleanore, having assisted her late mother in midwifery and herbal healing, is swept into assisting the only physician while the plague swept through Avignon and other parts of Europe. She risks her life helping those who are afflicted with the disease. As the story unfolds, Eleanore struggles with her values and beliefs, family relationships, cultural expectations of women, ignorance and mob mentality, and her own medical inexperience.

In this historical fiction account, the author captures life in the Middle-Ages with intricate detail, first-rate descriptions, and solid metaphors. The prose is mesmerizing. DeLozier in Eleanore of Avignon essentially explores the themes of life and death, hatred and ignorance, and fear and courage. It is a breathtaking account of what life must have been like in the mid 1300s, especially for women, but also for witches and those who did not adhere to the cultural and religious beliefs of the time.

There are three characters in the novel who were real people from the 14^thcentury and survived the plague. I won’t ruin it for you by mentioning who they are.

I recommend Eleanore of Avignon to those interested in historical fiction novels or the history of the Middle Ages, Europe, and France. Those interested in midwifery, herbal healers, medieval medical practices, witchcraft, and feminism in the 1300s would find this a satisfying read. Elizabeth DeLozier also explores the sub-themes of women’s subservience and empowerment throughout the book.

A bit about the author, Elizabeth DeLozier

Elizabeth DeLozier holds a BA in Spanish literature, a BS in biological anthropology, and a doctorate in physical therapy. She is an avid traveler, animal lover, history nerd, and lives in Southern California with her husband, twin sons, and rescue dogs.

Eleanore of Avignon is her first novel. It was a Library Reads Pick, an Aardvark Book Club Selection, and an Amazon Best Book of the Month. Elizabeth is currently writing her second book, The Whitechapel Full Moon Society, in which a young woman searches for her missing brother in Jack the Ripper’s London. The book will be available for purchase on August 25, 2026, and is available for preorder.

To learn more about Elizabeth DeLozier or to purchase a copy of Eleanore of Avignon, visit her website, www.elizabethdelozier.com.