HAMNET

CW loss of a child. Breathtaking and heartbreaking, Hamnet is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read in the past year, or any year. The story reimagines the death by plague of William Shakespeare’s eleven year old son Hamnet, through a raw and unforgettable portrait of his mother, Shakespeare’s wife Agnes. In dual storylines that converge, we learn how this unlikely couple came to be: a farmer’s daughter known for mysterious remedies, and a bright but aimless Latin tutor who hadn’t yet discovered his gift for theater. As the plague pings mercilessly from country to country, we are consigned to watch helplessly, holding our breath, as the young Hamnet inevitably falls ill and perishes, leaving a tidal wave of sorrow in his wake - along with the inspiration for the most famous play in history.

It can be difficult to read a tragic story in dark times, but Hamnet is so much more than an exploration of grief. It is a luminous study of humankind, a visceral look at one woman’s love, rage, passion, pain and peace. As with The Book of Longings, it focuses on the female counterpart of a larger than life man, who is already (we think) known to us. The meticulous historical details beautifully complement the touches of mysticism throughout. In short, it is magnificent.

In one of the book’s critical scenes, Agnes’s daughter brings her a posy of lavender and a basket of walnuts. Agnes’s friend, the baker’s wife, brings her a honey cake. I combined these here, with a rustic honey cake topped with walnuts and lavender sprigs, also in honor of Agnes’s bee skeps. In that scene, hopelessness turns into purpose and ultimately into some measure of peace.