Hamnet was eleven years old--he pulled practical jokes with his twin sister, Judith; he got on his older sister's nerves; he avoided his responsibilities; he laughed; he played. Hamnet was smart--he took after his father, the Latin tutor, in that way. Hamnet was generous and thoughtful, like his mother. Hamnet was here...and then he wasn't.
This is the story of a family of individuals coping with a terrible loss and contemplating the legacy that Hamnet left behind.
The characters of this tale truly make it what it is. Hamnet is the driving force behind this story, but Agnes--his mother--is the heart. Maggie O'Farrell does a wonderful job describing a powerful, self-sufficient, interesting woman at the center of this family--a nice change from the typical narrative centering of the man of the house (especially in historical focus on this family in particular). O'Farrell paints a picture of the life Agnes led and the connections she felt to nature and to those around her. And the other members of the family each get their moments in the sun as well. Every character feels complex and real. This is truly a magical story of love and survival and legacy. (Even better than the movie!!)
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