In 'Hamnet,' Maggie O'Farrell weaves a poignant tale that explores the life of William Shakespeare's young son, Hamnet, and the profound grief that follows his untimely death. Set in 16th-century England, the novel intricately connects themes of love, loss, and the creative spirit, revealing how Hamnet’s life and legacy influenced Shakespeare's greatest works. As the narrative unfolds, readers delve into the intimate bond of family, the toll of artistic ambition, and the echoes of absence that resonate through time. O'Farrell's evocative prose transports us to a world rich with emotion and historical depth. It’s a haunting and beautifully crafted story that prompts us to ponder how memory and art intertwine amidst heartache.
By Maggie O'Farrell
Published: 2021
"Grief is like a cloak; it envelops you, yet it can also be worn lightly, resembling a veil through which you see the world anew."
NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Of all the stories that argue and speculate about Shakespeare’s life ... here is a novel ... so gorgeously written that it transports you." —The Boston Globe England, 1580: The Black Death creeps across the land, an ever-present threat, infecting the healthy, the sick, the old and the young alike. The end of days is near, but life always goes on. A young Latin tutor—penniless and bullied by a violent father—falls in love with an extraordinary, eccentric young woman. Agnes is a wild creature who walks her family’s land with a falcon on her glove and is known throughout the countryside for her unusual gifts as a healer, understanding plants and potions better than she does people. Once she settles with her husband on Henley Street in Stratford-upon-Avon, she becomes a fiercely protective mother and a steadfast, centrifugal force in the life of her young husband, whose career on the London stage is just taking off when his beloved young son succumbs to sudden fever. Don’t miss Maggie O’Farrell’s new novel, The Marriage Portrait, coming in September!
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“Grief is like a cloak; it envelops you, yet it can also be worn lightly, resembling a veil through which you see the world anew.”
Hamnet
By Maggie O'Farrell
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Maggie O'Farrell is an acclaimed Irish author known for her richly textured narratives and lyrical prose. She has gained international recognition for her novels, including "Hamnet," which won the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020, and "The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox." O'Farrell's work often explores themes of love, grief, and identity, interweaving personal histories with broader cultural contexts. Her ability to delve into the complexities of human relationships and her meticulous attention to detail make her one of the most celebrated contemporary writers.
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