Naomi Weisman is a Canadian-Australian and mother of three, who loves to Ramble with her dog, cook for family and friends, and laugh whenever possible.
When Hamnet was released in 2020, I read it almost immediately—and it stayed with me long after I turned the final page. Maggie O’Farrell’s reimagining of Shakespeare’s private world felt both intimate and expansive, offering a tender meditation on grief, creativity, and the often-unseen forces that shape great art.
What captivated me most was the novel’s attention to the lives around Shakespeare rather than the legend himself. O’Farrell invites us into the domestic sphere—the marriage, the children, the rhythms of daily life—and in doing so, she reminds us that genius does not exist in isolation. It is fed by love, loss, observation, and the quiet endurance of those who share a life with it.
The book’s use of magical realism is subtle and beautifully restrained. Agnes’s connection to the natural world, her intuitive knowing, and the way grief is rendered as something almost physical gave the story an otherworldly texture without ever tipping into excess. At its heart, Hamnet is a profound love story—between husband and wife, parent and child—and a reflection on how loss can fracture a life while simultaneously giving rise to creation.
Watching the film adaptation was a different, more contemplative experience. The pacing is gentle and deliberate, allowing scenes to unfold slowly and emotions to surface organically. What truly stands out is the calibre of the performances. The actors bring extraordinary depth to their roles, conveying complex inner lives through subtle expressions, physical stillness, and carefully measured dialogue.
Grief, devotion, and longing are communicated with remarkable restraint, making the emotional impact feel earned rather than performed. The performances anchor the film, carrying its quiet intensity and ensuring that, even when words are sparse, the emotional truth of the story remains fully present.
While the film does not replicate the novel’s interior richness or lyrical language, it honours its emotional core. It invites the viewer to sit with sorrow, love, and memory, echoing the book’s central truth: that some losses are not meant to be resolved, only carried.
Hamnet, in both its forms, is a reminder that behind every enduring work of art is a human story—fragile, loving, and irrevocably shaped by those who mattered most.
⭐⭐⭐⭐Nomi's Verdict:
Hamnet is a quietly powerful exploration of love, loss, and the creative process. I would wholeheartedly recommend the novel for its depth and emotional richness, with the film serving as a beautifully acted, contemplative companion piece rather than a replacement.
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