Some of you may know of the author Hannah Kent, whose debut novel Burial Rites, set in Iceland, became a popular bestseller. I never did get around to reading it, though I would still like to, and it was for that reason I was intrigued to pick up this, her second historical novel, set in Ireland during the early 1800’s.
The Good People centres around the lives of three Irish country women, Nora, who has recently become a widow in the same year her daughter passed away, Mary, the teenage housemaid she employs to help her take care of a 4-year-old cripple, the grandson her son-in-law left with her; and Nance, an ageing spinster who lives in a mud shack on the edge of the forest, the one with “the knowledge” whom certain members of the community go to when the remedies of the doctor and the priest yield no cure.
Nora has not consulted Nance before, though her husband Martin had. She is wary of others and their superstitions so keeps the boy hidden from their prying eyes, lest they connect his condition to the string of bad luck in the community, for there are some saying he has ‘the fairy in him’, that he was a changeling, as if possessed.
‘A Changeling’ by illustrator & Ireland’s laureate for children’s literature, PJ Lynch – http://www.pjlynchgallery.com
In Irish folklore, people believed that fairies (Irish fairies appear to be a lot more sinister than the Disney kind) could entice or abduct a child away, leaving a malformed substitute (fairy) in its place, recognisable due to its ugly appearance, ill-health, bad temper and old world look of knowledge in their eyes. There were a number of ‘cures’ that might be applied to ‘sweep’ out the fairy and restore the child.
The novel follows the events that occur during the time Mary stays with Nora, as the widow increasingly begins to doubt the child is her grandson and treats “it” as if he were a changeling and Nance’s ways are denounced by the new priest.
‘I have been told you make it your trade to cry at burials.’
‘What is the harm in that?’
‘Your sorrow is artificial, Nance. Rather than comfort those who are afflicted, you live upon their dead.’
Nance shook her head. ‘I do not, Father. That’s not it at all. I feel their sorrow. I give voice to the grief of others when they have not a voice for it themselves.’
The novel immerses the reader deep into the folklore of 19th century Ireland, portraying many of its characters and the community around them as believers of those ancient ways, practitioners of protective rituals, despite the existence of more rational medicines and beliefs.
‘That’s right. Lights. Coming from here the fairies do be, down by the Piper’s Grave,’ Peter continued. Now I might not have the full of my eyes, but I swear I saw a glowing by that whitethorn. You mark my words, there’ll be another death in this family before long.’ His voice dropped to a whisper. ‘First the daughter passes, and now the husband. I tell you, death likes three in company. And if the Good People had a hand in it… well.’
The old ways brush up against the new and culminate in a challenge of one versus the other through the justice system.
Clearly, an extraordinarily well-researched novel, based on certain real events, it succeeds in creating an authentic sense of place, inside the very primitive home of Nora imbued with a strong sense of dread that this is not going to end well. We are shown how things came to be for all three characters and the reactions of the community around them, quick to fear and to judge.
Whitethorn, Faerie Tree, said to guard the entrance to the faerie realm
What it really excels at, is to make the reader wonder what is real and what is not, after the rejection of the doctor and the priest, we understand how the maid and the widow want desperately to believe in the knowledge of Nance and her alternative “cure”, providing a fascinating insight into a cultural folklore that had much of its community in its grip (and some say does still).
Despite this authenticity, I found it lagged in the mid-section, as Nance’s back story was filled in, causing me to lose interest in picking the book up for a while. It picked up again as the author returned to moving the plot forward. It’s a book, that despite its flaws is likely to generate interesting discussions, of those ancient rituals and beliefs and the cases that became well-known, of cures gone wrong.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of weeping than you can understand.(Excerpt from ‘The Stolen Child’ by W.B Yeats)
Note: This book was an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Word by Word 
Even in this materialistic, scientific age, I often wonder how much of those ancient beliefs were based on some primeval inner wisdom…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder too Valerie, so much of what was good was lost was making science the precursor to being an acceptable wisdom, I mean science has only just now been able to prove the existence of the meridien energy channels in the human body and that’s been part of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, thousands of years. The author does an excellent job of putting the reader in the shoes of someone who fervently wants to believe, if there is any chance of a cure, not so dissimilar to some of the modern medicines we want to believe in, which also put people through terrible pain and symptoms before anything like an often temporary cure is to be had.
LikeLike
I so agree with you… I have a friend who nurses in a cancer hospice. She says if she contracted cancer, she would not put herself through the horror they put their patients through, but would go straight off to John of God in South America !
LikeLiked by 1 person
And as a preventative medicine, I like to listen to the wisdom of Anita Moorjani, who’s been there, come back and able to share some very important lessons.
LikeLike
Ha, the second review of the book that I read today, which says it’s a bit repetitive and drawn-out in the middle. I’ve heard however that the first novel is outstanding, so I may get around to reading it some time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting, I have to be honest and say I did lose interest somewhat in the mid-section, but it was an interesting and thought provoking read, it’s funny how some books make you want to slow down to appreciate them and others you wish would speed up a bit as they fall into a lull. Understanding what causes those two things is one of the great lessons.
LikeLike
This is an area that really intetests me and I loved Burial Rites. I’m reading The Cure by Carlo Gebler at the minute which also explores the idea of changelings and irish myths. Fascinating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You definitely want to read this one then, I had little appreciation of all this ancient folklore, it is fascinating and a little frightening at the same time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think this sounds very good. I like the setting. But I already own Burial Rites and so I should read that first.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So many books! At least we can keep up with reading reviews, I agree, read what’s on the shelf first. 🙂
LikeLike
I still have Burial Rites to read too. Which I very much still want to read. This sounds fascinating too though, recreating that ancient wisdom we have now forgotten. A shame the middle section let it down a little.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad I persevered though, and it perhaps wouldn’t be an issue for someone who reads in longer sittings than me, to get through that section that seemed drawn out. You are right though, it’s an interesting look into those ancient feminine wisdoms that were often dealt with so harshly by different sectors of society, relying on something that seemed so mystical to them, but was really just a handing down of wisdom that then had to become so secretive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed the book. I like a book that has folklore mixed in it. And you have found the writing to be well researched, which is excellent. I need to read Burial Rites by Kent first
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did prefer Burial Rites to this book although I loved being immersed in a world of superstition and folklore. A very sad story though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m still looking forward to Burial Rites and this one despite it’s flaws, is a thought provoking read and one that certainly invites discussion.
LikeLike
I like the sound of this book, being immersed in folklore is not something I often venture into but this one sounds just so well done I really want to give it a try 🙂 I haven’t read the author’s first book but now both are on my wishlist 🙂
LikeLike
She’s an interesting author, as she takes true historical events affecting women and then makes us imagine what it might have like to live in those times, by creating a compelling story around them. Most people seem to prefer her first novel, but this one certainly leaves you thinking about it for a long time afterwards.
LikeLiked by 1 person