Hamnet (novel)
Hamnet is a 2020 novel by Maggie O'Farrell. It is a fictional account of Shakespeare's son, Hamnet, who died at age 11 in 1596.
![]() First edition | |
| Author | Maggie O'Farrell |
|---|---|
| Country | UK |
| Language | English |
| Genre | historical fiction |
| Published | March 31, 2020 |
| Publisher | Tinder Press |
| Pages | 384 |
| Awards | Women's Prize (2020), National Book Critics (2020) |
| ISBN | 978-1472223791 (1st ed. UK Hardcover) |
| OCLC | 1104658967 |
| 823/.914 | |
| LC Class | PR6065.F36 H35 2020 |
In 2020, the book won the Women's Prize for Fiction[1] and National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction.[2] The following year, it was named "Novel of the Year" at the Dalkey Literary Awards,[3] was shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize,[4] and longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.[5] It was described in Literary Review as "a rich story by any stretch of the imagination, and O’Farrell’s stretches much, much further than most of ours."[6]
In 2023, a stage adaptation of the novel by Lolita Chakrabarti premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, re-opening the Swan Theatre after the COVID-19 pandemic and refurbishment.[7][8] A theatrical film adaptation produced in part by Amblin Partners and directed by Chloé Zhao was announced on April 4, 2023.[9]
Awards
| Year | Award/Honour | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | National Book Critics Circle Award | Fiction | Won | [1] |
| Women's Prize for Fiction | — | Won | [2] | |
| 2021 | Andrew Carnegie Medal | Fiction | Longlist | [5] |
| Dalkey Literary Awards | Novel of the Year | Won | [3] | |
| Walter Scott Prize | — | Shortlist | [4] |
References
- "Novel about Shakespeare's son wins fiction prize". BBC News. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- Beer, Tom (25 March 2021). "National Book Critics Circle Presents Awards". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "Winner of the Novel of the Year 2021". www.zurich.ie. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
- "Australians comprise majority of Walter Scott Prize shortlist". Books+Publishing. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "2021 Winners". Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- France, Miranda (31 March 2020). "Love in the Time of Plague". Literary Review.
- "RSC to stage play about plague death of William Shakespeare's son Hamnet". the Guardian. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- "Swan Theatre". Royal Shakespeare Company. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- Kroll, Justin (4 April 2023). "Chloé Zhao To Direct Adaptation Of Maggie O'Farrell's Novel 'Hamnet' For Amblin Partners, Hera Pictures, Neal Street Productions and Book of Shadows". Deadline. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
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