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Michelle Barraclough asked this question about The Good People:
Does anyone have thoughts on the modern name for the illness that afflicted Micheal in this novel? I read through some of the references Hannah Kent put at the end of the novel and came up with 'hypothyroidism'. Just curious if I'm right or if Hannah herself has talked about it anywhere?
Alex Munday Sounds more like some type of cerebral palsy based on the description of his inward bent wrists and stiff fingers, it isn't always detectable from bir…moreSounds more like some type of cerebral palsy based on the description of his inward bent wrists and stiff fingers, it isn't always detectable from birth and can cause difficulty with speech, vision, learning etc. I could be completely wrong though.
Having said that, iodine deficiency and resultant hypothyrodism can definitely cause problems (I listened to a Conversations podcast episode at your recommendation and it was about iodine deficiency). Did he have a goitre though?(less)
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The Good People
by Hannah Kent (Goodreads Author)
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