8 tcf.org.uk I absolutely loved this book. Like many of you, I have read numerous books about grief, and losing a child. I have read therapy books, and also books written by other bereaved parents, and most of those have been helpful because of the reassurance that I am not alone, that the emotions I am feeling are shared and I'm not losing my mind! Unlike these books, Hamnet is fiction and is not written by a bereaved parent (I had to double check if the author, Maggie O'Farrell, had lost a child herself as her description of the depth of grief from losing a child in this book is so accurate and relatable I thought she must have lost a child herself. Surprisingly she hasn't and so perhaps she had researched the book by talking to bereaved parents). Although this book is fiction it is actually about the true story of William Shakespeare losing his only son Hamnet when the boy was just eleven years old. It is believed that this tragic experience gave Shakespeare the inspiration for writing one of his most famous plays, Hamlet, and this is What Maggie O'Farrell has based her book on. The book begins with a description of life in Elizabethan England, and a description of Shakespeare's family growing up in those times. It then tells the story of him falling in love and eventually marrying his wife, and starting a family, before tragedy hits them both. The second part of the book is where we will all feel resonance, going through the savage emotions of losing a child, from the perspective of the mother, the father, and also the siblings. This very sad second part of the book is written beautifully with deep emotion and sadness, and despite the difficulty in reading about these emotions, that I have sadly felt myself, I couldn't put it down. It is certainly a book that is very relatable to a grieving mum but also to a grieving dad, and it also explores possible changes in the relationship between a mum and dad after losing a child. I love historical books, and I really love historical fiction, so to discover a piece of historical fiction that is focused on the loss of a child was a real find. As soon as I had finished it I wanted to read it again! I have read the Hilary Mantel trilogy of books about Thomas Cromwell: Wolf Hall; Bring up the Bodies; The Mirror and the Light, and I loved those. Hamnet very much reminded me of them, although it is a much easier read, and a much shorter book. If you have read and enjoyed any of these three books then you would definitely like Hamnet. If this sounds like the kind of book you would like to read ,then I urge you to do so. I have never read or watched the play Hamlet but after reading this book I now want to. Like most of us I studied some Shakespeare at school, and haven't looked at any since, but from reading this book I am now intrigued by the story of Hamlet and the emotions Shakespeare may have felt when he wrote it, but maybe watching one of the films would be an easier option. COMPASSION | BOOK REVIEWS Book Reviews Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell reviewed by Chris Read
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