Hamnet

 

Did you know about William Shakespeare's dead son? The way it may have inspired one of his best-known plays? Or the family he left behind while pursuing his dream in London? 

Most of us did not. And while this book is a fictional interpretation of those events and never actually mentions his name, it's an enlightening (though often slow) look at the possible motivation behind one of the best writers the world has ever known.

We know from history that Hamnet Shakespeare was William's only son. We know he died at the age of 11 and left behind his grieving family and twin sister. Beyond that, much of Hamnet's life and death - and, its connection to his father's work - is the subject of scholarly speculation. 

But, it's a heck of a jumping off point for this book.

O'Farrell's story of Hamnet weaves together his family's history and his death from the plague. You know it's about Shakespeare, but the name is never uttered. Hamnet's father is written about only as an unnamed man. But, the details revealed about the boy's life and death also reveal the complicated relationships the famous playwright had with both his son and his own father, and allows the reader to infer how those relationships likely impacted his writing.

The subject matter is fascinating and as someone who studied Shakespeare in college, it was a fascinating look behind the (speculative) curtain. The middle was slooooow.... But the end provided enough of a reward to make me glad I didn't give up.