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Overview
Small Things Like These (2021), a historical fiction novella by Irish author Claire Keegan, follows protagonist Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and father to five daughters, as his mundane life is interrupted when he discovers a terrible truth about the community convent
. Small Things Like These explores themes of the power of kindness, the consequences of societal complicity, and the courage to confront injustices hiding in plain sight. The novella has received critical acclaim, winning the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction in 2022 and earning a place on The New York Time’s list of 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. In 2024, it was adapted into an award-winning movie starring Cillian Murphy.Read a full book summary, an in-depth analysis of Bill Furlong, and explanations of the book's most important quotes.
