O’Farrell explains that the novel draws on the few facts known about Shakespeare’s life. It also incorporates timeless themes often found in Shakespeare’s works: family love, siblings — even siblings who switch places — and the loss of a child. If you loved Hamnet as much as I did, you might also love these books about plagues, familial love, grief, and Shakespeare himself. If you love Shakespeare, historical fiction, or pandemic literature, try these books. If you’ve ever wondered why Shakespeare lived in London while his wife lived in Stratford, or how Shakespeare’s personal life may have influenced his writing, Hamnet imagines answers to these and many other questions.
Further reading:
Why We Should Still Read Shakespeare 5 Historical Novels with Famous Authors as Characters
