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Hamnet Summary. Next. Chapter 1. In the 1580s, a tutor conducting a boring lesson for a local farmer ’s son catches sight of the farmer’s eldest daughter, Agnes, through a window. She has a wild and “witchy” reputation because she can see into the future and because she is frequently seen haunting the forest with her kestrel.
Hamnet is a historical fiction novel published in 2020 by the Irish-British author Maggie O’Farrell. It fictionalizes the life of William Shakespeare’s family at the time of his son Hamnet’s death in 1596 and the writing of the play Hamlet around 1600. Hamnet won the 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction, a prestigious literary award in the ...
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- “A boy is . . .” Stratford, 1596. Hamnet is a boy with a twin sister, Judith, who is unwell. His father (William Shakespeare, though he’s not referred to as such in the book) is away in London, a two days’ ride away, as he often is.
- “If you were . . .” (This chapter is a flashback to a past timeline, the chapters jump back and forth from two separate timelines.) In the Hewlands, a tutor (William Shakespeare, though he’s not referred to as such in the book) teaches a Latin class.
- “Hamnet climbs the . . .” In present day (1596), Hamnet goes home to find that Judith is even weaker now. He sits by her bedside and cries himself to sleep.
- “There is suddenly . . .” (Past timeline.) After meeting Agnes, the tutor has a newfound enthusiasm for teaching Latin. His sister, Eliza, finds him writing in an attic.
- Quick (Minor) Criticism
- Historical Accuracy
- Read It Or Skip It?
The character of William Shakespeare in this book is humanized and made smaller. I understand why O’Farrell might want to do that, to avoid writing yet another tribute to the greatness of the towering figure of the William Shakespeare. However, I have to admit that this aspect of the book wasn’t entirely satisfying to me. Unlike his portrayal in th...
As mentioned previously, there’s definitely a lot of fiction mixed up in here. For example, a colorful interlude in the book involves a petrified Hamnet and a doctor wearing the distinctively creepy beaked plague mask that you’ve probably seen before. The problem is, in the book this happens in 1596, and the design is commonly attributed to Charles...
Hamnet is a moving and uncomplicated tale about a marriage, a family and the loss of a child. It focuses on the character of Agnes and offers unique rendition of Shakespeare’s life. I enjoyed the story quite a bit, the writing is lovely, and there’s a lot to like about Maggie O’Farrell’s vivid and engaging version of Agnes and William’s story. I fo...
- Maggie O'farrell
Living in Henley street, Agnes has three kids; Susanna, Hamnet and Judith. In 1596, Hamnet dies at eleven years old. His death devastates Agnes, who is overwhelmed by grief. She is unable to properly prepare for Hamnet's burial. Her husband grieves in his own way by writing a play called Hamlet in honor of his son.
- Maggie O'farrell
Jul 21, 2020 · Maggie O'Farrell's new novel confronts a parent's worst nightmare: The loss of a child. In this case, it's Hamnet, the real-life son of William Shakespeare, whose death may have inspired Hamlet.
Hamnet is a 2020 novel by Maggie O'Farrell. It is a fictional account of William Shakespeare 's son, Hamnet , who died at age eleven in 1596, focusing on his parents' grief. In Canada , the novel was published under the title Hamnet & Judith .
