Hamnet by Maggie O'FarrellMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a book about grief and love. "A Novel of the Plague" doesn't really cover it. That the plague is involved becomes less important than the relationships. It isn't an easy book to read if you have a soul. A historical imagining, O'Farrell illuminates the shadows of the historical icon known as Shakespeare, giving life to stories untold and names unsung. Agnes (alternatively known historically as Anne Hathaway) becomes the protagonist of the novel, which might seem strange given the eponymous role of the couple's son, Hamnet. In the end, however, the title is perfect.
I've had this on my TBR list for awhile now, and was eager to read it before seeing the film. I'm having a difficult time imagining it as a film, to be honest, but I've heard good things. I'll need to sit with Agnes as O'Farrell wrote her for a bit before allowing imaginative interlopers. The book is gorgeous in its details, and the semi-omniscient narration allows for a nuanced and multi-faceted empathy.
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2025FLT #8B Night Watch <---------- Hamnet (END)
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