Why this winter’s highly anticipated literary adaptation deserves your attention now
A powerful examination of moral courage set against Ireland’s shadowed past, ‘Small Things Like These’ is proof that literary impact can’t be measured in page count. The shortest-ever Booker Prize shortlist finalist (2022) and Orwell Prize for Political Fiction winner delivers what critics have dubbed “a stunning feat of storytelling and moral clarity.” Keegan’s precise prose elevates a novella-length work to monumental effect. The story haunts without preaching, moves without rushing, and arrives at exactly the right moment as Ireland continues to reckon with its institutional past. The gorgeous new hardback, timed perfectly for the film release, offers an ideal entry point into what’s certain to become a modern classic.
Set during Christmas 1985 in the Irish town of New Ross, the narrative follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and father of five, whose routine deliveries lead him to confront uncomfortable truths. Through its intimate lens, the story explores themes of moral choice, communal silence, and the weight of individual responsibility in the face of institutional power. Keegan weaves this personal tale against the backdrop of Ireland’s Magdalene laundries – church-run institutions where women and girls were forced into unpaid labor, the last of which closed as recently as 1996. Intriguingly, Keegan’s ‘Small Things Like These’ has been described as “an anti-Christmas Carol” in its approach to moral awakening.
Claire Keegan’s highly-acclaimed crystalline prose deserves first exposure on the page. While Mielants’ lens will capture the stark beauty of 1980s Ireland and Murphy is bound to bring Bill Furlong’s quiet torment to life, the book’s razor-sharp observations and moral complexities bloom differently in print. At just 116 pages – a single evening’s read – this story of conscience versus conformity simmers with details that deserve a reader’s full attention before they’re reimagined for the screen. The book will give you a deeper understanding of the historical context and an appreciation of the subtle details that may translate differently to screen.
Fresh from his Oscar-nominated turn in 2023’s Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy leads this intimately-scaled but powerful adaptation, taking on both a starring and producing role. The film adaptation marks an exciting collaboration between acclaimed playwright-screenwriter Enda Walsh and director Tim Mielants, with Murphy joined by Emily Watson and Michelle Fairley in a stellar Irish ensemble. Early Berlinale reviews are already highlighting Murphy’s “hypnotic grace” as Bill Furlong, suggesting this Irish-Belgian co-production could be this year’s Belfast or The Banshees of Inisherin – a deeply personal story that resonates far beyond its shores.
If you love novels that pack a profound punch in few pages, narratives of quiet courage, or beautifully-crafted Irish fiction, this one’s for you. Claire Keegan’s masterful prose demonstrates that the smallest choices can carry the greatest weight – and with the screen adaptation rapidly approaching, there’s no better time to discover why this tiny book has made such mighty waves.