The Wonder

Lib Wright, a 29-year-old English nurse, is the protagonist of The Wonder. The novel is presented in the third-person yet closely follows Wright’s perspective. At the beginning of the novel, Wright is defined by her dedication to nursing and the trauma she endured after the loss of her infant daughter. Trained as a nurse by Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War, Wright always carries Nightingale’s Notes on Nursing with her, and refers to it daily. The narrative suggests that Wright is proud of the reputation she has earned as one of the Nightingale nurses, and the work she did during the war. However, the strict, exacting nature of her training prevents her from forming a true connection with Anna, which ultimately endangers the girl’s health.

In the novel’s Epilogue, Wright has tossed her memorandum book—which, following Nightingale’s training, included all of her notes on Anna’s case—into the ocean. This suggests that she is giving up the part of her identity that relied on being a nurse. Wright’s transformation reflects the novel’s interest in Redemption and the Importance of Second Chances.