I was halfway through this historical novel when I became aware that its bones were based on a true story: Eyam - The Plague Village
In 1666, a small English village was hit by Plague. In a moment of collective courage, all 300+ of its souls made a pact to stay there, cut off from the rest of the world, rather than cut and run and spread the disease to their neighbours. Many, of course, succumbed to the disease, but their sacrifice probably saved many other lives.
With the addition of sympathetic characters and a stirring plot, the author builds on the bones of this poignant tale and gives a fascinating account of what it must have been like to have so many of the people who made up your small world vanish almost overnight in the most terrible of circumstances. A truly remarkable story.
LabRat
Athos: If you'd told us what you were doing, we might have been able to plan this properly. Aramis: Yes, sorry. Athos: No, no, by all means, let's keep things suicidal.
