Hamnet is an exquisite yet utterly devastating novel about a family altered by unimaginable grief. Filled with moving lyricism, Hamlet explores a range of themes such as familial bonds, a parent’s love for their child, our relationship to nature, being a woman on the fringes of society, the tragic power of grief, and most importantly, remembrance.

Hamnet is a fictional account of the heart-wrenching story that inspired one of history’s most famous plays Hamlet. While many members of the Shakespeare household have a POV in this story, by far, the protagonist of the story is Agnes (Anne) Hathaway. To this day Agnes remains one of history’s most enigmatic figures, despite the everlasting fame of the Bard, very little in known about his wife. Maggie O’Farrell brilliantly used the mystery and freedom that comes with this to craft one of the most intriguing heroines I’ve ever encountered. Agnes is somewhat of an outcast. She has a powerful connection with nature and the unique ability to touch a person’s hand and know everything about them:

“She grows up fascinated by the hands of others, drawn always to touch them, to feel them in hers. That muscle between thumb and forefinger is, to her, irresistible. It can be shut and opened like the beak of a bird and all the strength of the grip can be found there, all the power of the grasp.”

This power makes others fearful of her and yet eager to use her aid when everything else fails. To me however, her idiosyncrasies to society, her unwavering love for her family, her connection to nature, the depth she holds, her strength in trying to keep her family together, truly makes Agnes a protagonist to remember. “Every life has its kernel, its hub, its epicentre, from which everything flows out, to which everything returns,” and in this story, this is Agnes. She is the centre of the household and the force that allows the story to flow out.

What I loved about Maggie O'Farrell's writing is the intimacy between the reader and each character, really allowing us to hear their thoughts, feel their hopes and fears, understand their flaws. For me the genius of this novel comes from taking someone as famous as Shakespeare and someone as scarcely known as Anne and taking both of them out of history’s impersonal aura to feel ordinary, real. We see a family. One that loves and care for each other, that feels tragedy together, that hurts but heals. The exploration of their grief was authentic and treated with tender care. 

And the ending...  what can I say besides the fact that it was one of the most powerful and impactful endings to a novel I have ever read.

Overall I can't recommend Hamnet enough, it is a moving story about the interconnectivity of life and one that you will never forget.