Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell is the historical fiction interpretation of the 16th century marriage of Will and Agnes, the death of their only son, Hamnet, from the bubonic plague, and the shattering effects of this loss on the family. The story has added significance for us during this time of COVID as we see playwright Will channel his grief into creating his greatest work, still popular 400 years later.
Maggie O’Farrell is an Irish-British author known for portraying unconventional women resisting the vagaries of their lives. She worked as a journalist in Hong Kong and London, a literary editor and creative writing teacher. She is the award–winning author of at least 11 books.