Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

This is a historical novel of great beauty and intensity of feeling, with an incredible sense of time and place.

The names Hamnet and Hamlet were interchangeable in the 16th century, and here the author weaves a fictional story around the short life of Hamnet, the son of the famous playwright William Shakespeare. Shakespeare himself is never named in this book - he is referred to as the tutor, the glove-maker’s son, the husband, the father... highlighting the fact that this is about his wife and family, and not a lot about him.

The family life of Agnes (Anne Hathaway), and her 3 children (Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith) is richly imagined. Agnes is an outsider, a wilful and determined woman who is skilled in plant remedies and has an uncanny ability to see the truth of things. She first meets the glove-maker’s son when flying her kestrel, and he is transfixed by her presence. The book moves backwards and forwards in time, which helps the reader understand how Agnes has been shaped by her experiences as a girl, and how the close bond with her brother Bartholomew arose.

The language is a real treat, you will delight in the descriptive passages and will be drawn into the Stratford of the 1500s. The food, clothing, work, and speech all feel authentic. I thoroughly recommend this book as a great read.

Maggie O’Farrell is one of my favourite authors. Dunedin Public Libraries has her other books, so try those too, you won’t be disappointed! The Hand that First Held Mine is another favourite.

You can also check out Hamnet in the DPL catalogue.

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