Summary
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan is a critically acclaimed work of historical fiction set in 1985 Ireland. Published in 2021, the novella explores themes of hope, quiet heroism, and the power of individual choice in a society dominated by the Catholic Church. Praised for its depth and powerful storytelling, Keegan's work has received numerous accolades, including winning the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction in 2022. It was also shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize and the Rathbones Folio Prize, cementing its place as a significant literary achievement. Critics have lauded Keegan's precise prose and her ability to create a fully realized world in such a compact format.
Small Things Like These was adapted into a film starring Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy, which premiered at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.
Plot
Set in a small Irish town in 1985, Small Things Like These follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man, during the busy weeks leading up to Christmas. As Bill goes about his daily routine, delivering coal to various customers, he finds himself confronted with a moral dilemma that forces him to reckon with his town's dark secrets.
One morning, while making a delivery to the local convent, Bill stumbles upon a disturbing scene. He discovers a group of young women in deplorable conditions, polishing floors and appearing severely neglected. One of them even begs for his help to escape. On a subsequent visit, Bill encounters Sarah, a girl locked in a cold outbuilding overnight. When he attempts to assist her, the Mother Superior intervenes, dismissing Sarah's plight as a result of mental illness.
As Bill grapples with what he's witnessed, he tries to push the troubling images from his mind. However, his conscience won't allow him to forget. During this time, Bill also uncovers a personal secret—the identity of his unknown father. These revelations, both public and private, force Bill to confront the complicit silences that have long governed his town, where the church's influence permeates every aspect of life.
Unable to ignore the injustices he's seen, Bill returns to the convent one final time. Finding Sarah locked out in the cold once again, he makes a decisive choice. In a quiet act of rebellion against the town's oppressive status quo, Bill gives Sarah his coat and walks her back to his own home. As they make their way through the streets, attracting the attention of onlookers, Bill approaches his front door with a mixture of fear and hope, determined to do what he believes is right.
Themes
Moral courage in the face of societal pressure
Impact of religious institutions on small communities
Confronting historical injustices
Personal growth and self-discovery
Legacy of family and upbringing
Contrast between individual conscience and collective silence
Hope and empathy in challenging circumstances
Setting
Set in 1985, Claire Keegan's Small Things Like These unfolds against the backdrop of a small Irish town during the weeks leading up to Christmas. This era was marked by significant social and economic changes in Ireland, as the country grappled with modernization while still under the strong influence of the Catholic Church.
The story takes place in New Ross, a town in County Wexford in southeastern Ireland. New Ross, situated on the River Barrow, serves as a microcosm of rural Irish life in the mid-1980s. The town's layout, with its central convent and local businesses, plays a crucial role in shaping the narrative and the characters' interactions.
Within this setting, specific locations take on particular significance. The local convent, where Bill Furlong makes his coal deliveries, becomes a focal point of tension and moral conflict. Other key spaces include Bill's coal yard, the streets of New Ross where he conducts his business, and his family home, each offering a glimpse into different aspects of Irish society during this period.
Characters
Bill Furlong: The protagonist, a coal merchant and family man in a small Irish town. Bill is a compassionate and morally conflicted character, grappling with the discovery of young women being mistreated at the local convent. His own background as the son of an unmarried teenage mother influences his perspective and actions. Bill ultimately chooses to act with empathy and courage, challenging the town's complicit silence.
Mrs. Wilson: Bill's mother's employer who allowed her to keep her job and raise Bill despite being an unmarried teenage mother. Her kindness and support had a lasting impact on Bill's life and shaped his sense of morality.
Mother Superior: The nun in charge of the local convent. She attempts to cover up the mistreatment of young women at the Magdalene laundry, representing the church's power and influence in the town.
Sarah: A young woman Bill discovers locked in an outbuilding at the convent. Her plight represents the broader issue of the Magdalene laundries and their victims.
Bill's wife: She advises Bill to ignore the situation at the convent, reflecting the town's tendency to maintain the status quo.
Bill's daughters: Bill has five daughters. Their presence in his life likely influences his empathy towards the young women at the convent.
Ned: A farmhand Bill knew as a child, who he later realizes is his unknown father.
Local pub owner: He warns Bill against publicly criticizing the convent, illustrating the church's pervasive influence in the town.
Quick facts
Small Things Like These is set in 1985 in a small Irish town during the weeks leading up to Christmas.
At only 128 pages, it's considered a novella rather than a full-length novel.
The book won the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction in 2022.
It was shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize in 2022.
The story deals with the controversial topic of Magdalene laundries in Ireland.
The main character, Bill Furlong, is a coal merchant and family man.
The novel was adapted into a 2024 film starring Cillian Murphy.
About the Author
Claire Keegan (1968-) is an acclaimed Irish writer known for her powerful short stories and novellas. Raised on a farm in County Wicklow, Keegan's rural upbringing has significantly influenced her writing. She pursued her education internationally, earning degrees from Loyola University in New Orleans, the University of Wales, and Trinity College Dublin.
Keegan's literary career took off with her debut collection Antarctica (1999), which won the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature. Her subsequent works, including Walk the Blue Fields (2007) and the novella Foster (2010), have garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards. Her most recent novella, Small Things Like These (2021), was shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize.
Throughout her career, Keegan has received numerous accolades, including the William Trevor Prize, the Davy Byrnes Irish Writing Award, and the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. Her stories have been featured in renowned publications such as The New Yorker, Granta, and The Paris Review. Keegan's work often explores themes of rural Irish life, family dynamics, and societal expectations.
In addition to her writing, Keegan has held teaching positions at various institutions, including Villanova University and Trinity College Dublin. She has been a member of Aosdána, Ireland's association of artists, since 2008.
