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Hag-Seed

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Hag-Seed

By: Margaret Atwood
Narrated by: Robert Holmes Thomson
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About this listen

‘It’s got a thunderstorm in it. And revenge. Definitely revenge.’

Felix is at the top of his game as Artistic Director of the Makeshiweg Theatre Festival. His productions have amazed and confounded. Now he’s staging a Tempest like no other: not only will it boost his reputation, it will heal emotional wounds.

Or that was the plan. Instead, after an act of unforeseen treachery, Felix is living in exile in a backwoods hovel, haunted by memories of his beloved lost daughter, Miranda. And also brewing revenge.

After twelve years, revenge finally arrives in the shape of a theatre course at a nearby prison. Here, Felix and his inmate actors will put on his Tempest and snare the traitors who destroyed him. It’s magic! But will it remake Felix as his enemies fall?

Margaret Atwood’s novel take on Shakespeare’s play of enchantment, revenge and second chances leads us on an interactive, illusion-ridden journey filled with new surprises and wonders of its own.

 Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction World Literature Celebrity Shakespeare Theatre Witty Thought-Provoking Funny

Critic Reviews

Riotous, insanely readable and just the best fun... The novel builds to a fantastic climax of dark calamity... There is so much exuberance and heart and wonder in this novel that the only thing I want to happen next is for Atwood to rewrite the whole of Shakespeare. (No offence, Will.) (Viv Groskop)
A triumph... The book illuminates the breadth and depth of the whole play. The troupe's workshops on it fizz with perception as Atwood transmits the pleasurable buzz of exploring a literary masterpiece. There won't be a more glowing tribute to Shakespeare in his 400th anniversary year (Peter Kemp)
Atwood reinterprets the play as a heartbreaking novel, told in gorgeous yet economical prose (Editor's Choice)
Surpassingly brilliant... without question the cleverest "neo-Shakespearean novel" I have ever read... the learning and the critical analysis are worn exceptionally lightly, always subordinated to wit, invention, characterisation and slick twists of plot... wonderfully ingenious (Jonathan Bate)
An absolute triumph... ravishing... I am not ashamed to say that I didn't just have a lump in my throat by the end of Hag-Seed, I had tears on the fringed curtains of mine eyes (Stuart Kelly)
At its heart Hag-Seed is a love letter to Shakespeare and a passionate treatise on the power of language, poetry and the arts. But it is also a study of loss and love and the power of forgiveness to heal when all seemed lost (Marnie Gilmore)
Atwood never loses sight of the original… Hag-Seed is not only a fine example of the shape-shifting versatility of Shakespeare’s texts, but a successful novel in its own right… Hag-Seed displays Atwood’s inventiveness at its shining best, a novel that enchants on its own terms and returns you to the enchantments of the original (Rebecca Abrams)
The novel shines a thrilling new light on The Tempest's themes of revenge and forgiveness... as well as making a strong case for art's ability to "set you free" by helping you understand yourself. (Helen Brown)
An unqualified success... an enlightening and exciting exploration of Shakespeare's themes... A wonderfully intelligent book (John Harding)
Margaret Atwood throws a handful of theatrical glittery confetti over Shakespeare's The Tempest ... A compelling tale of a bereaved father -- haunted by the memory of his lost daughter -- who learns to face up to "the plain, unvarnished grime of real life", transforming it into something buoyant, resonant and hopeful (Eithne Farry)
All stars
Most relevant
This book has a nice audio with an interactive and well paced reader. A good listen.

Good voicing

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I loved this book.
I laughed - and I cried. In this book Margaret Atwood has painted a canvas that vividly depicts the raw human emotions of the agony of loss and the complexity of love. This is a great version of the Tempest.

Elegant, witty and compelling.

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I read this for school but I would have read this anyways - a fantastic, accessible, insightful read that can be best enjoyed when read in conjunction with the Tempest.

Incredible book

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Margaret Atwood has certainly revived Shakespeare and this play 'The Tempest' and so much more. Reading performance was perfect! Sounded so true to Felix's character and really dipped into the depths of character.

Brilliant! Genius!

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Amazing! This novel is outstanding in so many ways. A very clever plot based on & around Shakespeare’s The Tempest. But set in an institution where readers would never dream such intellectually challenging words could find a home.
There are so many different themes to follow & intriguing characters guiding us through. Revenge might be the dominant theme but there are many more.
The narrator is brilliant in his portrayal of so many different characters & his timing is perfect.
A must read.

Hag Seed by Margaret Atwood

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