I confess that I sobbed, loudly, through several chapters of this novel. Don’t let that put you off but just be aware that this is probably not a story to read if you are feeling sad or vulnerable. Perhaps wait until you feel stronger so that you can appreciate the wonderful writing and can empathise with Agnes as she deals with her loss.
So, what’s it about? Set in the 1580s, the essence is about marriage and loss. The author has long been fascinated by the untold story of Agnes and has used fiction to imagine how it could have been.
The story had a great impact on me, as it swept me into Agnes’ world. Brilliant.
Read more about Hamnet on Goodreads.