Small Things Like These

Set in a small, working-class Irish town during the harsh winter of 1985, Small Things Like These centers on Bill Furlong, a coal and timber merchant struggling to provide for his wife and five daughters. Furlong is a man of simple routines and quiet decency, accustomed to the economic difficulties and the pervasive influence of the Catholic Church. As Christmas approaches, his deliveries lead him to the local convent, where he stumbles upon a disturbing secret: evidence of young women and girls being held in oppressive conditions, essentially enslaved within the convent's laundry. This discovery forces Furlong into a profound moral quandary, pitting his conscience against the ingrained fear and deference the community holds for the powerful institution. The novella delves into themes of courage, complicity, and the moral responsibility of individuals within a society that often turns a blind eye to suffering. Furlong's personal history, marked by his own status as an illegitimate child, adds a layer of empathy to his internal conflict as he grapples with the potential consequences of speaking out – ostracism, financial ruin, and challenging the established order. What makes the book compelling is Keegan's masterful, understated prose; she builds immense tension and emotional weight through Furlong's quiet observations and internal struggle. It is a powerful examination of how ordinary people find the strength to act against injustice, suggesting that acts of conscience, however small, can carry profound moral significance in a world often dominated by silence and fear.

Store Availability