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?
Wendy Newton They said he had cretinism in the book which is an iodine deficiency which would explain his mothers fading death as well.
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by Hannah Kent (Goodreads Author)
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