A review by avitakaur
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Little is known about Shakespeare’s personal life, he had a wife named Anne Hathaway and three children, one of whom passed away from unknown causes at the young age of eleven: Hamnet. A few years later, Shakespeare released his famous play, Hamlet. Was his late son the inspiration for this play? No one knows, but Maggie O’Farrell has attempted to weave together her own fictional interpretation of Shakespeare’s family life. Although, the most interesting part about this novel is that is focuses not on Shakespeare himself, but on Anne, the women behind the Bard. 

This book certainly wasn’t an easy read, the content was heavy, writing style extremely descriptive, and it was slow paced. It was, however, masterfully written. It never dawned on me to consider Shakespeare’s life and its potential impact on his famous works; this novel brought a whole new side of the Playwright to life. Thought-provoking and relevant. 

Recommended 
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