This book put me through the wringer, no two ways about it! 

It was a slow start and the pace throughout is slow to medium, but O’Farrell’s excellent writing skills and characterisations mean that I was so wholly immersed in the 16th century world inhabited by Hamnet and his family, that it only enhanced my reading experience. The story tells the tale of Hamnet, the son of the Bard (never once referred to by name which I found fascinating!), one of a pair of twins. Hamnet and Judith, his fragile, sickly twin sister are very close, interchangeable physically and emotionally entwined. In the very beginning we are told that Hamnet and Hamlet are interchangeable names, and that Hamnet’s father wrote a play called Hamlet about 4 years after he died, so as a reader it’s clear this is a tragedy.

What makes this a 5⭐️ book for me, besides the story, is the beauty and depth of O’Farrell’s prose. Her exquisitely drawn characterisations and her complete and thorough understanding of her characters and their relationships. Her descriptions of every character are spot on as are her descriptions of the Shakespearean family dynamics. Many times during my reading, I felt like I was reading a play that Shakespeare might have written himself. Her use of language and propensity to use words of the time, stringing them together so effectively is fabulously atmospheric. All the time I read, I was completely immersed in the 16th century world of these characters, sometimes feeling like I was inhabiting a very realistic dream! I felt like I would run into Hamnet, Judith or Agnes at any moment, they felt so real!

This book is about all the usual human emotions - love, friendship, jealousy, sacrifice, but most of all it’s about grief. Grief and the myriad ways in which it affects humans and the various ways in which they react to it and deal with it. How it can sunder a family apart and how with perseverance life may find meaning again even in the face of overwhelming odds. My favourite character is Agnes - strong, bold, confident and yet vulnerable in love, terrified of loss. Her journey through this narrative was incredibly difficult and yet her grace undeniable. O’Farrell’s descriptions of grief & depression, unique to every character, were some the best I’ve read in literature. Truly her mastery over language is unparalleled! Many times in the book, I was taken back in time, to my own experiences of loss and reminded of my own feelings of grief & helplessness; of my own struggles to overcome and move on. The loss of a loved one is irreparable, nothing is ever the same again and yet, we survive, and with time and help and love, we may begin again to breathe, to live and even to laugh. Life trumps Death as it should.

This book has my heart! It’s the first time in a very long time that I’ve felt so enveloped in a story, so involved in its characters. I haven’t had great experiences with award winning books in general, the hype they receive never quite matching up to my reading experience, but Hamnet doesn’t disappoint! It is pitch perfect in terms of story, narrative, characters and atmosphere! Highly recommended & a must read! ❤️

There are many intense and intimate passages that gripped my heart. The entire scene in which Agnes prepares Hamnet for burial had me in tears, but I’m including here the very first sentence I tabbed,

And there in lies the tale!