Hamnet – Maggie O’Farrell

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Chosen by Suzy

Set in the 1580s, this book is about Shakespeare and the events that led to him writing the play Hamlet. It is told not from his point of view, but from that of his wife, who is left in Warwickshire to raise three children, one of whom is Hamnet/Hamlet, and battle various illnesses and plagues. A story of motherhood, marriage and grief.

What is given may be taken away, at any time. Cruelty and devastation wait for you around corners, inside coffers, behind doors: they can leap out at you at any time, like a thief or brigand. The trick is never to let down your guard. Never think you are safe. Never take for granted that your children’s hearts beat, that they sup milk, that they draw breath, that they walk and speak and smile and argue and play. Never for a moment forget they may be gone, snatched from you, in the blink of an eye, borne away from you like thistledown.”

● I loved the shift from the famous playwright to the important person who he married – Agnes Hathaway. The domestic focus was long overdue and done in such a comprehensive and rich way that I wasn’t particularly interested in knowing more about the man who is otherwise revered. The depiction of grief was both gripping and devastating. – Suzy

● I was drawn in and captivated by this well-researched work of historical fiction based primarily around Shakespeare’s wife and the tragic loss of their 11-year-old son Hamnet. The novel was easy and uncomplicated to follow, full of beautifully written descriptive passages. A very emotional and heart-rending novel with a great ending that left me with chills.– Jodie

● This opened my eyes to another side of life for Shakespeare, seeing life through his wife and family’s outlook. I was made to think about the harsh reality of normal life at this time where losing a child in particular was common place. The descent into grief was heartbreaking and seemed realistic (having never myself, thank god, experienced such awfulness).  A little bit of seeing into the future and a few ghosts rounded out the story nicely. I would recommend this book. – Jo

● As with all her books, Maggie O’Farrell has an unparalleled style of writing. It is breathtaking, especially when dealing with grief and anguish. My only ‘but’ is that sometimes the descriptions get a little wordy, but I am being overly critical here because her work is of such a high standard and I will always read anything new she writes. Hamnet is an incredibly moving book. I appreciated the story of a famous man being told from the point of view of his wife, detailing all that she went through to allow him to achieve greatness. – Rachel

Published 2020
Tinder Press
372 pages