"A thrilling departure: a short, piercing, deeply moving novel about the death of Shakespeare's 11 year old son Hamnet--a name interchangeable with Hamlet in 15th century Britain--and the years leading up to the production of his great play. England, 1580. A young Latin tutor--penniless, bullied by a violent father--falls in love with an extraordinary, eccentric young woman--a wild creature who walks her family's estate with a falcon on her shoulder and is known throughout the countryside for her unusual gifts as a healer. Agnes understands plants and potions better than she does people, but once she settles with her husband on Henley Street in Stratford she becomes a fiercely protective mother and a steadfast, centrifugal force in the life of her young husband, whose gifts as a writer are just beginning to awaken when his beloved young son succumbs to bubonic plague. A luminous portrait of a marriage, a shattering evocation of a family ravaged by grief and loss, and a hypnotic recreation of the story that inspired one of the greatest masterpieces of all time, Hamnet is mesmerizing, seductive, impossible to put down--a magnificent departure from one of our most gifted novelists" -- prové de l'editor.
What's Bookie?
- Free delivery in Germany.
- Find your perfect next read.
- Track to motivate you to read more.
- Connect with people like you.
Hamnet
"A thrilling departure: a short, piercing, deeply moving novel about the death of Shakespeare's 11 year old son Hamnet--a name interchangeable with Hamlet in 15th century Britain--and the years leading up to the production of his great play. England, 1580. A young Latin tutor--penniless, bullied by a violent father--falls in love with an extraordinary, eccentric young woman--a wild creature who walks her family's estate with a falcon on her shoulder and is known throughout the countryside for her unusual gifts as a healer. Agnes understands plants and potions better than she does people, but once she settles with her husband on Henley Street in Stratford she becomes a fiercely protective mother and a steadfast, centrifugal force in the life of her young husband, whose gifts as a writer are just beginning to awaken when his beloved young son succumbs to bubonic plague. A luminous portrait of a marriage, a shattering evocation of a family ravaged by grief and loss, and a hypnotic recreation of the story that inspired one of the greatest masterpieces of all time, Hamnet is mesmerizing, seductive, impossible to put down--a magnificent departure from one of our most gifted novelists" -- prové de l'editor.
Popular Reviews(6)
Reviewed by VerenaI wanted to rate it not that good because it’s very slow in the beginning. Also, I have no idea why the book is called hamnet when it’s more about his mother and her life and grief. The writing is beautiful, the story nice. The last 150 pages broke my heart. The grieving scenes tore my heart into a million pieces. “Remember me” “What is the word, Judith asks her mother, for someone who was a twin but is no longer a twin? Her mother, dipping a folded, doubled wick into heated tallow, pauses but doesn't turn around. If you were a wife, Judith continues, and your husband dies, then you are a widow. And if its parents die, a child becomes an orphan. But what is the word for what I am? I don't know, her mother says. Judith watches the liquid slide off the ends of the wicks, into the bowl below. Maybe there isn't one, she suggests. Maybe not, says her mother.”
Reviewed by LissyI loved that this story didn’t focus too much on ‘the husband’ (which probably would have been the obvious thing to do) but rather on the women throughout his life. I fell in love with Agnes and loved her perspective on things, this made me crave to look into the husbands works again. So many feelings, moving in the best way.
Reviewed by LenaDid I only finally read this because of the soon to be movie adaptation starring Paul Mescal? Yes Has it kinda influenced who I picture as Shakespeare in this? Yes Was this such a great atmospheric and haunting read nevertheless? Clearly
Reviewed by Monika Audiobook was certainly the way to go for this one. The prose is beautiful, the characters are well enough fleshed out, you are immediately transported into 16th century England within the first few chapters. And yet, maybe because this historical fiction is set so long ago that my reality is so unlike the reality of the characters, it would have been difficult to get into it for me in physical format. Also, sometimes it's a tiny bit boring and left me colder than intended by the author I'm assuming.
Reviewed by IdalisI know that some people don’t like this and I’m happy I’m not one of them lol I actually really enjoyed reading this book. The writing caught my attention, the story kept me there and I truly enjoyed reading about these characters. Grief was on every page, some may like the portrayal and some not. I did cause it really made the story whole (in my humble opinion). Definitely would recommend :)