Terrie Robinson (short break)'s Reviews > Hamnet

"Hamnet" by Maggie O'Farrell is a Masterpiece!

In Stratford, Warwickshire in 1580, a Latin tutor falls in love with Agnes, an eccentric young woman who is uniquely different and perceived as strange by the townsfolk for her innate connection to nature and wildlife.

The Latin tutor and Agnes quickly marry. She becomes a fierce mother, a wife, and a healer. The husband becomes a gifted writer. They have three children together: the oldest, Susanna and twins, Hamnet and Judith. The husband goes to London for his work, only to visit his family several times a year.

Tragedy strikes this family when their son Hamnet dies in 1596 at age eleven from the bubonic plague. Several years later, the husband writes a play titled "Hamlet", named for his dead son...

This story is an emotional read that lacks joy and happiness from cover to cover. Despite it never reaching a stroke of brightness, the authors' prose is pure beauty in the telling of this speculative story.

The writing style captures the darkness and hardships of living in the time period and evokes a sense of being present in the places described, smelling the pungent odors of animals in the streets, and hearing the noises of living in close proximity to both family and neighbors.

The characterizations are clever and entertaining. She paints a clear picture in the readers' mind of each of the players as she draws them fully and creatively. The details in her story are rich and robust.

Listening to the wonderful Ell Potter narrate the audiobook is a breath-taking and memorable experience. I read the hardcover book in February, then listened to the audiobook in November and, to me, there is no comparison between the two. The audiobook brings more color and life to the story, its characters, and I remember it in greater detail!

I'm hesitant to read another book by this author as I wonder how she will possibly top this masterpiece. At the same time, I can hardly wait to select one. I highly recommend this book! 5 beautiful stars!