Fictional book with civilian population that has agency and feels like a character in itself?

As title says. Prefer adult fiction. I loved the book Germinal and would love to read more (fiction) books like it. I want the civilian population to feel like they have diverse wants/needs and actual have a sense of agency distinct from the central characters of the story.

Suggestions? It's important at no point they need to be "rescued" or "aided" by the protagonists and very much have their own lives going on.

I also want to see myself rooting for the population. They can be determined or lovable so long as they're engaging.

Also important they have a large presence within the narrative and don't exist solely in blurbs every now and then. They must be integral to the flow of the story.