Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

The no. 1 bestseller that inspired the major film starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal

*Winner – Toronto Film Festival People’s Choice Award*

‘Every time I read Hamnet I feel so moved and compelled to just turn the page, not wanting it to end’ JESSIE BUCKLEY

‘Richly sensuous… something special’ The Sunday Times

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

The untold love story that inspired Shakespeare’s greatest masterpiece.

On a summer’s day in 1596, a young girl in Stratford-upon-Avon takes to her bed with a sudden 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 Hamnet will not survive the week.

Hamnet tells the powerful story of Agnes and Will, and of the son whose life has been all but forgotten, but who inspired one of the greatest plays ever written.

*Fall in love with HAMNET this year*

‘HAMNET is a feast for the senses’

‘One of my favourite books of the year. Simply gorgeous’

‘Words fail me… this story had me feeling everything’

‘I read and reread passages throughout this exceptional novel’

**NOW A MAJOR FILM,**
WINNER: WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION
WINNER: FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR, BRITISH BOOK AWARDS
WINNER: BOOKS ARE MY BAG READER’S CHOICE AWARD
WINNER: NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD
A SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
SHORTLISTED: AN POST IRISH NOVEL OF THE YEAR, WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION

About the Author: Maggie O’Farrell is the author of HAMNET, Winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2020, and the memoir I AM, I AM, I AM, both Sunday Times no. 1 bestsellers. Her novels include AFTER YOU’D GONE, MY LOVER’S LOVER, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, which won a Somerset Maugham Award, THE VANISHING ACT OF ESME LENNOX, THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE, which won the 2010 Costa Novel Award, INSTRUCTIONS FOR A HEATWAVE, THIS MUST BE THE PLACE and THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT, which was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize. She is also the author of three books for children, WHERE SNOW ANGELS GO, THE BOY WHO LOST HIS SPARK and WHEN THE STAMMER CAME TO STAY. She lives in Edinburgh.

23 Oct 2025
 

Hamnet: Read the bestselling book before you see the award winning film by Maggie O’Farrell ISBN 9781035431335