The Good People
The Good People
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2016
Book Brief
Beta386
Novel • Fiction
Ireland • 1820s
2016
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Good People by Hannah Kent follows a widow and a healer in 1820s Ireland who try to cure a young, differently able boy believed to be a changeling. The narrative explores themes of belief, superstition, and the clash between traditional practices and emerging modernity in a rural village.
Reviews & Readership
26,196 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Hannah Kent’s The Good People has been praised for its evocative writing and rich historical detail, capturing the essence of rural 19th-century Ireland. Critics highlight the novel's atmospheric tension and well-researched folklore. However, some find the pacing slow and the narrative occasionally repetitive. Overall, it is a compelling tale of belief and superstition.
Who Should Read The Good People?
Readers who enjoy historical fiction with rich atmospheric settings and elements of folklore, such as Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale or Emma Donoghue's The Wonder, will be captivated by Hannah Kent's The Good People. This novel is ideal for those intrigued by 19th-century Irish culture, superstition, and deeply layered characters.
26,196 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
386
Novel • Fiction
Ireland • 1820s
2016
Adult
18+ years
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