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Hamnet

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Hamnet

By: Maggie O'Farrell
Narrated by: Daisy Donovan
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About this listen

WINNER OF THE 2020 WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION - THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 2021
'Richly sensuous... something special' The Sunday Times
'A thing of shimmering wonder' David Mitchell

TWO EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE. A LOVE THAT DRAWS THEM TOGETHER. A LOSS THAT THREATENS TO TEAR THEM APART.

On a summer's day in 1596, a young girl in Stratford-upon-Avon takes to her bed with a fever. Her twin brother, Hamnet, searches everywhere for help. Why is nobody at home?

Their mother, Agnes, is over a mile away, in the garden where she grows medicinal herbs. Their father is working in London. Neither parent knows that one of the children will not survive the week.

Hamnet is a novel inspired by the son of a famous playwright. It is a story of the bond between twins, and of a marriage pushed to the brink by grief. It is also the story of a kestrel and its mistress; flea that boards a ship in Alexandria; and a glovemaker's son who flouts convention in pursuit of the woman he loves. Above all, it is a tender and unforgettable reimagining of a boy whose life has been all but forgotten, but whose name was given to one of the most celebrated plays ever written.

©2020 Maggie O'Farrell (P)2020 Headline Publishing Group Ltd Biographical Fiction Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Renaissance Small Town & Rural Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Tear-jerking
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It was a joy to listen to this book. The powerful and evocative writing, coupled with superb narration, took me into another time and place and gave me a glimpse into the life of Shakespeare and his long-suffering wife and children. It was a slow but immersive read.

Beautifully written and imagined story

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Donovan's narration was very very good. you won't regret reading this book if you want a good story

One of the best books I've listened to this year.

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So beautifully and achingly tender was this story , I couldn’t let it go and put it aside. I needed to hear Daisy Donovan tell me again how Hamlet, true or not true, became the most revered of Shakespeare’s writings. Without any hesitation, for me, Maggie O’Farrell’s writing
and Daisy Donovan’s reading touched my soul so deeply and took me to a place in my heart that I felt had closed so long ago, and ever so gently kept opening me up to feeling such love and tenderness for life. Thank you Maggie and Daisy from the fullness of my heart.

Achingly beautiful…

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As the final words were read, a cold chill went through me. From head to toes.
Hamlet had always been my favourite of Shakespeare's plays
This book has added so many layers to the story. And the narrator is simply brilliant in her telling of the tale
I loved it from start to finish. The description of grief was searing , sensitive, and so very real to me.
Congratulations Maggie O Farrell

Magnificent

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An absolute pleasure to listen to
You will not be disappointed
A wonderful way to be transported back a few centuries

Beautiful novel with fabulous narration

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Hats off to the Narrator of this book. Loved how she brought the characters to life
I loved the minute detail of this period , which Maggie O Farrell painted in her words . You could almost believe you were there
A real gem of a book
Loved it!

Entrancing!

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This kept me entertained and enthralled from start to finish. I will seek out further stories written by this author and also those read by the narrator.

Fascinating historical fiction , well told.

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A tender, wonderful story, steeped in the sixteenth century and beautifully performed. Most highly recommended

Remarkable

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The writing and descriptions were mesmerising. The narration was perfect. I highly recommend this sensitive and provocative work.

Beautiful story.

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Richly layered, complex imagining of the death of Shakespeare’s son Hamnet.

An intimate portrait of 16thc English rural life, particularly that of women, it is a moving insight into the depths of grief in a world in which death is common. All overlayed with the possibility that perhaps - perhaps - this accounts for the emotional kernel of Hamlet & Shakespeare’s later works.

Immersive, slowly unfolding with beautifully drawn characters, it is a book to savor. And Daisy Donovan’s reading of it allows just that. Always a relief when such a beautifully written book is placed in the hands of a professional actor for its reading. Exquisite performance.

Loved it.

Evocative & moving

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