Reader comment on Hamnet

Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrell: Beautifully written, with clear and fluid prose, this book drew me in immediately to the story of Shakespeare’s family, particularly that of his son, Hamnet (an interchangeable name with Hamlet), and of his wife, Agnes (or Anne). Too many historical novelists provide a heavy dose of research without insight or creativity. That’s not the case with O’Farrell, a superb writer, who is able to descriptively transport the reader to Shakespeare’s lively home with its aroma of herbs and cooking, to the bustling town of Stratford-upon-Avon, and briefly to the dirty and chaotic city of London. This story does not focus on Shakespeare as a playwright but as a son, husband, and father. It is an intimate story, about the heartbreak of losing a child to the plague, the rebuilding of life as a parent afterward, and how a family comes together in all of its different dimensions. I would heartedly recommend this book!