Hamlet is, arguably, one of the William Shakespeare's most infamous plays. But where did the genesis for this genius stem from? Was it from the death of his son whilst in his youth, who bore the strikingly similar name of Hamnet? Or did his genius merely grow from a lifetime of hardships, making him both the renowned playwright and the man he became.

O'Farrell uses her years of lengthy research to reconstruct the lives of both the playwright and his young son, in a back-and-forth timeline that sees William grow whilst his son perishes. William's own youthful days were recounted and include his familial discontent and the meeting of Agnes, or Anne, who was to later become his wife. Hamnet's portions were more contained and, instead of providing a sweeping account of his short life gave minute focus to the truncated end of it, whilst only in his eleventh year.

Whilst this was a fascinating account of an individual I have much interest about, it bore little resemblance to the novel I thought I would get. The writing style was distinct yet distanced. I struggled to feel much of a connection to any of the characters, save for free spirit and Shakespeare's later wife Agnes, and certainly not for the tragic Hamnet. Whilst I did remain fascinated throughout I also felt held apart from what occurred and, so, the emotions I anticipated were not strongly felt at any critical juncture.

I loved this book so much. It was absolutely brilliant, all the way through. I've always liked Maggie O'Farrell's writing, but this was just on another level...right from the very start I was captivated. The pace of the book is amazing, written in the present tense throughout. It is immersive, and immediate, and engaging. I felt myself there, as I read, there in Stratford amongst Shakespeare's family. I love that he himself is never named and is always 'the father' or 'the husband' or 'the brother'. Agnes, his wife, and Hamnet, his son, are the real stars of the story. I loved them both, and many of the other characters too. They all live and breathe, and the fields and the woods and the town leapt right from the page into my mind.

I read a lot of good books. And I read a lot of not terribly well written, but still enjoyable books. But this was one of those magical books that left me with no complaints. There was nothing I would change. There was no slow bit. There were no disappointing characters. The writing stayed true, from start to finish. Just the most wonderful reading experience. Thank you, Netgalley, for my copy. It was an absolute joy to read.

When the browbeaten son of a bullying glovemaker and the wild daughter of a farmer meet they are overcome with passion and their families force them to marry. Several years and three children later Agnes is still a wise woman and has her ways whereas her husband is based in London, making money and making a name for himself in the theatres. When Judith, one of the twins, falls ill her brother Hamnet searches for his family but only he can save his sister.
This is a wonderful book telling the story of a marriage and a love for family that transcends its setting. Yes, it is based on Shakespeare's family and the inspiration behind Hamlet the play but really this is a story of love. The writing is sublime in places, the section on the way the plague travels to Stratford is writing sparingly but with great intensity and the way Hamnet dies is written with such tenderness. I loved this book!

Oh look...I’m never going to write a review that is as articulate and profound as I would like it to be. That is what this book deserves but just feel assured that for me, this is one of my favourite books of the year so far. It ticks many boxes and embodies everything I love about historical fiction. At school, Hamlet was my favourite of Shakespeare’s tragedies by a long shot so I was attracted to the premise of this book. Particularly as it touches on both fact and fiction. Intriguing I know! 🧐

It was love at first page to be honest. I quickly found my stride with the language, the characters and the storyline. I was transported to 16th century Stratford and it was glorious. The characters were well developed and you felt their pain and tumoil. I particularly warmed to Agnes as a mother; her children were her life. There was something endearing about her, and I also felt a connection to Hamnet. The way the dual narrative weaves together was so cleverly plotted and executed. It’s astonishing storytelling with copious amounts of exquisite detail. O’Farrell is able to tap into your emotions with such intensity, it’s hard not to be transfixed by this story. It’s spellbinding! I didn’t want it to end. 😍

HAMNET is an enchanting powerful tale of family ties, love, grief, and the imagined early life of one of the world’s most iconic playwrights. It doesn’t surprise me at all that this has been longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. I’m sure it will make the shortlist as it’s a unique piece of literary fiction. 🤩

Just read it. Please and thank you. 🙏

I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in the pages of Hamnet. A truly beautiful and moving tale that I would definitely read again. Thank you so much for writing it.

This was an absolutely exceptional, emotional book that was simply a stunning read.

I’ve always loved books which involve taking an actual historical character and making an alternative story with them so this book instantly appealed to me. Everyone knows who Shakespeare is but not much is known about his wife, known to the world as Anne Hathaway but whose actually name was Agnes! Here the author gives the reader a glimpse into the life of the woman she might have been, subtly giving explanations for some of the rumours that exist about her. I found I really liked Agnes who came across as warm, capable woman who had a lot of love for her kids.

The author does a fantastic job of making everyday life in Tudor times come to life. I really enjoyed learning more about the period, especially the roles a woman were meant to take on within the home and the skills they were meant to have. It was interesting to see the difference in the daily routines between a town person and someone living in the country. The weird and ineffective ways that doctors of the time tried to treat the plague was very eye opening and made me realise how far medicine has come.

This isn’t a particularly fast paced book but it is an incredibly compelling read which will quickly draw you into the story. Having read some of the other reviews my understanding is that there are some very clever hidden meanings behind the writing and the way the book is written which I think must have gone over my head. Please don’t be put off by this as I thought it was still an amazing story in its own right without realising this. It’s a fabulous piece of historical fiction and one I’ll be recommending to everyone.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Georgina from Midas publicity for my copy of this book.

Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell tells the story of Shakespeare’s family, focusing particularly on his wife Agnes and their children. Agnes is an standout heroine and we see her at two main stages of her life, as a young woman before and soon after marriage, and just over a decade later. Agnes is a bit of square peg in a round hole in the community in which they live. I really loved her personality and her strength of character and the witchy and supernatural aspects to her character were portrayed really well without ever becoming hokey.

The writing in this book is pure class. It’s up there with Jess Kidd and Diane Setterfield. Gorgeous, beautiful wordsmithery that spins off the page and reminds you of the sheer pleasure and magic of reading. At times there was an element of otherworldliness which contrasted with the Elizabethan setting of the story and left me questioning what was real and what was fantasy.

I felt so invested in the characters and anxious for their safety, it’s one of those books where you really root for the characters. Knowing a little of the history behind the book meant I knew of some of the events that were likely to happen but it was like watching The Lion King and deep down you hope this time, just this time, maybe Mufasa won’t die. I felt like my heart had been cut out at the end of this book.

This is a book about survival, love, motherhood and the unbreakable bonds of family and it is pretty much perfect - just remember the tissues.

In 1596, Agnes is in her garden where she grows medicinal herbs, unaware that the Black Death has arrived in Stratford-upon-Avon and will shortly take the life of one of her eleven-year-old twins. Four years later, these events lead to her husband, William Shakespeare, writing one of his most enigmatic plays, Hamlet. As the story drifts backwards and forwards in time, we learn about the first time Agnes meets her future husband, the life they build together and how the family struggles to deal with their grief after the loss of their son.

This book is going to take a lot to beat. I don’t usually read Historical Fiction but I had heard a lot of good reviews and decided to give it a try. I don’t know whether it’s because I am a new mother myself and the thought of what they went through was so devastating, or if the parallels with the Plague in the story and the fact that we are in the middle of a pandemic made it so much more relevant, but it didn’t take long for me to completely fall in love with this book.

It was devastating, dark and emotional in places and I sometimes found it hard to read on. At the same time, the ending was so powerful that even though I know it is a fictional account, I really believed that everything I read was exactly as it would have happened. This is a must read and I would highly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Headline Group for the opportunity to read and review.

On a summer's day in 1596, a young girl in Stratford-upon-Avon takes to her bed with a fever. Her twin brother, Hamnet, searches everywhere for help. Why is nobody at home? Their mother, Agnes, is over a mile away, in the garden where she grows medicinal herbs. Their father is working in London. Neither parent knows that one of the children will not survive the week. Hamnet is a novel inspired by the son of a famous playwright. It is a story of the bond between twins, and of a marriage pushed to the brink by grief. It is also the story of a kestrel and its mistress; flea that boards a ship in Alexandria; and a glovemaker's son who flouts convention in pursuit of the woman he loves. Above all, it is a tender and unforgettable reimagining of a boy whose life has been all but forgotten, but whose name was given to one of the most celebrated plays ever written.

What a stunning, heart-wrenching and beautiful read this is. It really is perfection. Everything about this is stunning, from the eye-catching cover to O'Farrell's beautiful descriptions and the wonderful characters O'Farrell has evoked. I was completely absorbed in this read, it completely tugged at my heartstrings, I laughed and I cried and I fell deeply in love with this.

We follow the story of Agnes; her childhood, her marriage and ensuing parenthood. What a woman she turns out to be, incredibly interesting and so very strong. Her life is hard and she loves hard, this comes across in abundance and I took Agnes into my heart. This is fiction but based in reality, this is so evident with the characters. We know they are real people but O'Farrell really brings them to life and captures the essence of who they were and who they could be. I just adored reading this and getting to know the characters.

'Hamnet' is truly a stunning read. This is by far my current favourite read of the year. The plot is incredibly emotional but beautifully written, the characters are superb and O'Farrell's use of language perfectly evokes the time period and the emotions and heartache the characters go through. This is such a special, absorbing read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tinder Press for an advance copy.

I have long been an admirer of Maggie O’Farrell and was delighted to read her latest novel. This novel looks at two main events in the life of Shakespeare; his meeting and relationship with his wife, Agnes, and the death of his son, Hamnet. However, Shakespeare is not the main character here, although is influence, and character, are felt – more often it is ‘offstage,’ so to speak, as he is often absent from the family home.

Without doubt, the influence of Shakespeare has meant that he is seen as someone who is removed from normal life, but, of course, he lived with all of the uncertainties, concerns and issues that other people have. O’Farrell does an excellent job of re-creating the era and you have a real sense of time and place. I was especially impressed by the way the family home was portrayed, with Shakespeare’s father a somewhat sinister, unpleasant presence. Often drunk, and violent, Hamnet knows to stay well out of his reach.

At the very centre of the book is the tragic loss of Hamnet, twin to sister, Judith, and younger sibling to Susanna. This is a moving novel of marriage, family and loss, with an interesting historical setting. I received a copy of this novel from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Set in 1580’s Warwickshire and tells the tale of Agnes.

Agnes is a bit of a unique woman, she kept a Kestrel when she was young, she uses herbs for health, keeps bees and knows things about people, just by touching their hands. She has three children. Susanna and twins, Judith and Hamnet. Her husband works in London, so he is as far away from his brutal father as he can be.

Young Hamnet tragically dies at only 11 years old in the time of plague.

Four years later his father writes a play, Hamlet.

Oh my, this is a beautifully written tale of loss, of grief, the heartbreak at the loss of a child. The language used is gentle and flows perfectly, giving a real sense of time and place, the emotion is palpable.

This really is historical fiction at its finest and is sure to be a classic in the making and Book clubs everywhere will adore it. A truly stunning read.

Thank you to The publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Hamnet for free. This is my honest, unbiased review.

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrel is a fictional account of William Shakespeare's son's death from plague and the impact that it has upon those that loved him. It is incredibly sad, and at times caused me to cry, but it is also enchanting and joyful, with characters that are beautifully drawn and not the caricature they could easily be.

Writing this novel must have been incredibly difficult, focusing as it does on a child's death. O'Farrell does not take the easy way out, focussing predominantly on Hamnet's mother's grief (Agnes) and the ways in which her ability to divine the future, make cures, and to know other's secrets is both a blessing and a curse. However, she also explores the imagined reactions of Shakespeare, his mother, and their remaining daughters. All of these reactions feel correct and relatable and are enhanced by O'Farrell lingering over small details, for example Agnes' putting away of Hamnet's clothes after his death, which someone from any century could relate to.

I am now experiencing grief of my own, at coming to the end of this brilliant novel. I remain a very big fan of Maggie O'Farrell.

I love O'Farrell's writing and this was no different. Amazing storytelling, a really creative approach driven from Shakespeare's Hamlet. I loved the writing, the story and everything about it.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

Hamnet's tells the story of Shakespeare' son. It follows from Shakespeare's initial meeting with his soon-to-be wife, their life together with their children, grief when deaths occur and the production of Hamlet several years later. The timelines flow together seamlessly and the depictions of grief are incredibly profound and beautifully written.

I enjoyed that despite being a prominent character, Shakespeare took a back seat throughout the novel, being referred to by descriptions rather than name, he is also largely absent, bringing the focus mainly upon his wife Agnes who is a well developed and incredibly interesting character.

The narrative follows several characters besides Agnes however, they felt rather one-dimensional which was slightly disappointing. However, a wonderful, highly moving book - recommended.

Thanks to Headline, Tinder Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is mainly the story of Agnes. She is the wife of Shakespeare. A large portion of the book is told in dual timeline.
I found the early chapters of this book confusing and it took me a while to get into it. But once I did I couldn’t stop reading it

The writing is so descriptive and brings Elizabethan England to life.
This book details the emotions of grief, how it affects everyone differently and it also highlights family dynamics so well.

Maggie O’Farrell puts William Shakespeare to the background of this story and what a beautiful, lyrical journey she takes the reader on as she explores the events around the death of his son. It explores the almost folkloric background of Agnes his wife, his own troubled upbringing by a harsh and dismissive father and the events leading up to the death of Hamnet.
The writing has a dreamlike quality at times, while avoiding being ponderous or repetitive.
I had to put it to one side several times, as the weight of the emotions became too much, along with the inevitability of a tale where you know “what happens in the end”. It rewards careful reading to fully appreciate the language she uses to craft her story.

What a beautiful book, this has eased my soul in these troubled times. The ebbing and flowing of the text and simple, almost repetitive telling of events is mesmerising. The central character of this work is Agnes or, more commonly known as, Anne Hathaway, the wife of Shakespeare and mother of his children - Susanna, Judith and Hamnet. She is described so vividly she springs off the page, her husband is never referred to by name, only as her husband or their father or his son. The death of Hamnet is one of the most poignant, beautiful and affecting scenes i have read for many years. I think this must be what death is like. This is also a tale for these times as the plague is rife and O'Farrell writes a compelling account of how the pestilence reached the family from a flea far away in other lands. Not the same pestilence, but the same effects. I am sad that I have finished this, I will miss the family as I already miss Hamnet. Quite beautiful.

I have to say I enjoyed this book but I was also disappointed?
I had looked forward to reading it and was excited when I received a copy via netgalley to review. But.........
beautifully written with some eloquent phrasing but, it dragged on. The narrator? or voice? or person? through whose eyes we see events. Well I was never sure who was talking. It’s not a very long book and I’m sorry to say that was a relief. The subject, the death of Shakespeare’s son Hamnet (and has twin sister) from the plague was well handled. The grief of loosing a child and the effect it has on those left behind was beautifully and poignant. Literature sure, a good read less so.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, The Hand That First Held Mine and Instructions for a Heatwave I was really looking forward to reading this book. It is based around the life of Hamnet, Shakespeare’s only son, who died a few years before Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. I thought it was a wonderful examination of grief told through the eyes of his mother. It tells the story of Hamnet’s birth and how he came to die. The theme of motherhood is one which O’Farrell has explored before and she explores it again with sensitivity; evoking the pain of loss remarkably well.
Little is known about Shakespeare's personal life and this allows Maggie O'Farrell to weave a spellbinding story around the limited facts available. What is interesting is that Agnes, the mother, becomes the lead character in this novel and Shakespeare remains just a bit player.

I found her writing was able to bring Elizabethan England vividly to life and I would heartily recommend this book and am sure that it will become a future classic. I only hope that it reaches the wide audience it so obviously deserves. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Hamnet is the story of Agnes and her three children; Susanna, Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet dies of the black death aged 11 and four years later Agnes’ husband writes a play called Hamlet. Interestingly, Shakespeare is never named in this story but his presence is is unavoidable.
This story gives life to characters who have previously existed in margins and footnotes. It provides an incredible portrait of an historical family.

I’m already a fan of historical fiction and Maggie O’Farrell but this book is absolutely stunning. I finished reading and immediately wanted to start it again. The writing is so lyrical, poetic and eloquent. The characters are drawn in full technicolour. It’s as though, for a while, I inhabited their lives.

Agnes, I loved Agnes and the way that she was portrayed. It’s as though she is a mythical creature stepping out of a fairy tale or picture book and is stranded in real life. Her knowledge and intuition made the story magical.

This is without a doubt the best book I’ve read so far this year and I hope it makes the women’s prize shortlist.

I am so grateful to @netgalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.