Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell Book Review

TITLE:                     Hamnet

AUTHOR:               Maggie O’Farrell

GENRE:                  Historical Fiction

PAGES:                   372

DATE FINISHED:   12/08/2025

SUMMARY:
Drawing on Maggie O'Farrell's long-term fascination with the little-known story behind Shakespeare's most enigmatic play, Hamnet is a luminous portrait of a marriage, at its heart the loss of a beloved child.

Warwickshire in the 1580s. Agnes is a woman as feared as she is sought after for her unusual gifts. She settles with her husband in Henley street, Stratford, and has three children: a daughter, Susanna, and then twins, Hamnet and Judith. The boy, Hamnet, dies in 1596, aged eleven. Four years or so later, the husband writes a play called Hamlet.

Award-winning author Maggie O'Farrell's new novel breathes full-blooded life into the story of a loss usually consigned to literary footnotes, and provides an unforgettable vindication of Agnes, a woman intriguingly absent from history.

CHARACTERS:

The book focuses mostly on Agnes, the mother of Hamnet and the wife of the unnamed husband who is William Shakespeare. The fact that Shakespeare is never actually named appears to be a deliberate choice in order to keep the focus off him and on his family, particularly his wife.

SETTING:

The story takes place in Elizabethan England, mostly in Stratford although we do get a little trip to London. The first part of the story - up until Hamnet’s death - is told in two timelines. The first is the “present” in which Hamnet ultimately dies, and the other is the past which shows how Agnes and her husband met and married and had their children. After Hamnet’s passing the story moves on in a single timeline. 

FAVORITE PART:

I don’t know that it is a favorite part but the part that stood out the most was the author’s depiction of grief - especially that of the parents. It was thoughtful and real and raw. It resonated with me as I can recall having the thought, after my father's passing, that "he has to be somewhere" - a feeling expressed by O'Farrell's Shakespeare upon the death of his son.

THEME(S):

Grief and loss is the predominant theme of the book. How profound losses affect individuals, families and the ripple spreads out. It takes your hand and walks beside you in your grief. It doesn’t turn away but takes in the pain and loss. It seems to say to anyone who has experienced bereavement “I see you, I see your loss. You are not alone. Your lost loved one was known, is known and made a difference in this world.”

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:

I did find the book rather slow. There wasn’t enough happening to keep me on the edge of my seat wanting to come back and see what happens next. 

WHAT I LIKED:

The writing is beautiful. The author paints a picture of life such that you find yourself transported to the English countryside, or walking the filthy streets of Shakespeare’s London. O’Farrell has a way of capturing emotion and feeling that is both breathtaking. 

WHO IS IT FOR:

If you love historical fiction, if you love slow emotional reads and don’t mind a good cry then you will enjoy this book.

PACE:     Slow.

CHARACTER OR PLOT DRIVEN:     Very character driven

CONTENT WARNINGS:     There are a couple of more open door scenes. Discussions of abuse, death and violence.

RATING:

3.5.  While the writing is strong this was just too slow for me, personally. 

Plot / Story    ⭐⭐⭐ 

Characters    ⭐⭐⭐ 

Writing Style    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Atmosphere/Vibes   ⭐⭐ 

Spice     🌶️🌶️

Overall   ⭐⭐⭐.5