Hamnet is a historical fiction novel by New York Times bestselling author Maggie O’Farrell, published in 2020.
Hamnet won the 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction, Fiction Book of the Year at the British Book Awards and and was one of the most critically acclaimed novels of the year. It was also featured as a “big-hitter” on BBC’s Between The Covers.
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell: Plot
Little is known about Shakespeare’s son other than he died at age 11 in the 16th century. It’s thought that he possibly died from the bubonic plague that killed around one-third of all children below the age of twelve in Elizabethan England
Hamnet is Maggie O’Farrell’s fictional interpretation of the events that unfolded over 400 years ago.
In 1596, a young girl becomes suddenly seriously ill. Her twin brother, Hamnet, searches for help as nobody is home. Meanwhile, their mother, Agnes, is over a mile away and their father is working in London.
None of them know that Hamnet will not survive the week.
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell: My Opinion
Hamnet is a powerful, beautifully written novel. I loved it. I’d read a review prior to reading the book that commented on the sentence structure and use of commas and I found myself focusing on that at the beginning, rather than the storytelling. However, once I allowed myself to focus on the actual story, I was was gripped.
I loved how William Shakespeare is very much a secondary character, so much so he is never even named. He is referred to as the Latin tutor, the husband and the father, and never by his actual name. This isn’t his story and his name has so many associations with it. I found it a really clever idea to never actually name him.
We know Shakespeare’s wife to be Anne Hathaway, but within the book, she is referred to as Agnes. Agnes is strong, unapologetic and dignified. She’s a really impressive character and I loved reading about her.
It’s strange to read a book when you know how it is going to end. It’s no spoiler to say that Hamnet dies. I felt a feeling of dread as I read on, knowing this sweet, caring boy was going to pass away. I didn’t think I was going to cry because I knew his death was coming, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was heart-breaking to read which is a testament to Maggie O’Farrell’s skill as a writer.
FAQs
When was Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell released?
Hamnet was published on 31st March 2020.
What books are similar to Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell?
If you enjoy novels based on true events in the 16th century you may enjoy The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.
If you’re looking to read other winners of the Women’s Prize to Fiction you might want to read Piranesi by Suzanna Clark, The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki or Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.
Has written any other novels?
Maggie O’Farrell has written several other novels, the most notable being The Marriage Portrait and The Hand That First Held Mine.
Summary
I really enjoyed reading this beautifully written historical novel. It’s a book that will stay with me and has inspired me to visit Stratford-Upon-Avon again. I found it to be deserving of all the praise and awards.
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