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A review by _riannalouise
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
hamnet tells the story of the forgotten shakespeare, a young boy lost to time but who’s memory is kept alive, o’farrell suggests, through the play that bears his name. even if audiences do not know it. it is an imagined story, yes, but one which weaves together history and folklore allowing the prose to take on a lucid and magical sheen. some interesting literary choices allow o’farrell to masterfully explore loss, grief and identity across two timelines. the novel has has a poetic quality, visceral and immersive, with a closing passage that leaves a chill on your skin.