Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

In 1665 an actual village infected by the plague cut themselves off from the world sacrificing themselves to prevent the spread of the disease. In this fictionalization by Brooks you follow young widow Anna Frith. In their isolation the town is stripped to their essence. Many are lost to the disease and those that remain are changed forever some for the better. The subtitle is “A Novel of the Plague” but really this is a novel of humanity. People are put to the test in every way possible. Some of them turn to crime and others turn to the devil, but a few like Anna turn to themselves. A great story of personal journey that is almost impossible to put down.