The topic is endlessly fascinating. The novel is based on an actual village in England when the plague slips in (1666). What's significant about this village is that the people chose to quarantine themselves to keep from infecting neighboring villages. This meant no one would escape exposure, but then, they had the moral high ground. Over about 18 months, two thirds of the population died.
The protag is a young woman of humble means and low expectations for herself. Working closely with the minister's wife who is kind, educated, and encouraging (teaches her to read), Anna evolves into a woman of stamina, self-respect, and expectations.
There is a twist at the end which surprised me, but I won't give that away. I wasn't really pleased about this twist because it messed up my expectations, but it really is a masterful and revealing stroke. Well done!
Highly recommended even if you're not a plague junkie like I am.
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