Back

reviewed Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

Maggie O'Farrell: Hamnet (2020, Headline Publishing Group)

Drawing on Maggie O'Farrell's long-term fascination with the little-known story behind Shakespeare's most enigmatic play, …

Preferred The Marriage Portrait

Hamnet, a historical fiction about Shakespeare's son, but in reality a book about mostly about Agnes, his wife. I found it a strange book, with almost dreamlike prose and had trouble really getting into it.

I prefer more concrete narratives, and in general despise any touch of the supernatural, of which there is quite a bit of in this book. I really enjoyed O'Farrell's “The Marriage Portrait”, so I was dismayed to find that Hamnet just didn't hold my attention in the same way.

However, the last paragraphs, the last sentence, those last two words?! I got all goose bumpy in a good way!