‘Hamnet and Hamlet are in fact the same name, entirely interchangeable in Stratford records in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries’ – Steven Greenblatt
Golden hair, wistful daydreams, and a name enduring generations, Hamnet details the life of a boy and his family: his twin Judith, a sister Susanna, his mother Agnes, and his father who is only ever referred to as “the latin tutor” or “the husband”. This is a story of how the Black Plague and its grim toll inspired “the husband” to write a play by the same name.
Maggie O’Farrell writes in such a way that you feel as if you’re watching something unfold rather than being told a story, a technique I found unique and highly effective. Purported as “a novel of the plague”, the plague itself seemed to take a backseat to flashback storylines and contextual framing, which was enjoyable to read but didn’t appear to drive the plot. I went in with an expectation that the novel would focus on the process behind Shakespeare’s grief transforming into his famous play, and in a way it did, but only in the last fifteen pages or so.
I feel torn in the aftermath of this book. On one hand I absolutely loved the writing style, the descriptions, and the semi-detached manner in which O’Farrell tells the story. On the other hand, however, I felt let down by the plot progression. While there were some moments of intrigue and drama, I was left feeling like not much happened overall. Maybe that impression was a result of knowing the major conflict going into the novel and then not experiencing enough plot development after the fact. Regardless, I thought the strong beginning and strong ending deserved more meat in the middle.
Even with the my frustration over the plot, I can’t move past how much I enjoyed O’Farrell’s writing style. I think it alone merits the hype Hamnet has received since its publication and I’m eager to read more of her work.
Personal rating: 7/10
Recommend? Yes
Re-read? Not likely
Time: 1:36
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