"Year of Wonders" by Geraldine Brooks
"Loosely based on a true story of a Derbyshire village, Eyam, which was struck by the plague in 1666. Actual letters from the village rector exist which tell of the villagers heroic decision to isolate and quarantine themselves rather than flee the plague and risk spreading the "plague seeds" furthur. Brooks' novel takes as its narrator, Anna, a young widow in the village who works as a servant for the charismatic and powerful rector and his compassionate wife. They become the strength behind the village as the plague spreads its devastation and over a period of a year wipes out two thirds of the village. Although the subject matter is horrific in parts, the overall feeling of the novel is of uplifiting compassion and hope."
I actually just finished it. And loved it.
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."