Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell

 

Characters
Agnes Husband – Will, not named through most of novel Suanna – older sister Hamnet and Judith – twins   John – Will’s father, makes gloves, his father ousted from guild Mary – Will’s mother
Agnes’ family	Will’s family
Father – “former man of means” Rowan – mother, died giving birth to third child Bartholomew – brother, inherited farm Joan - stepmother, allowed to live on farm in will Six children – Caterina, Joanie, Margaret, Thomas, James, Richard   Falcon – Agnes’ pet, a kestrel, given to priest when married   Agnes able to see the future, could “read” people by pinching the area between their thumb and index finger	John – father, makes gloves Mary – mother Eliza – sister Anne – sister, died Two older sisters died before Eliza born Richard, Gilbert, Edmond - brothers

 

NOTE: Page numbers are from the 2020 paperback edition.

1.      On pages 140 – 151 the author tells how the plague of 1596 made its way to England.   Did you find this description interesting, plausible, scary?

2.      On pages 170 and 171 the author describes Susanna playing boat while sitting on the floor in a basket.  What did you think of this description?

3.      If you were Mary, what would you have thought of Agnes as a daughter-in-law?

4.      Did you like how Will is never mentioned by name throughout the novel?

5.      Agnes and Bartholomew conspire to send Will to Strafford because they feel he needs work, to feel useful.  Was this a good decision?  Would will have written what we suppose he did if he had stayed?

6.      Judith thinks her dad stays away because he is reminded of Hamnet when he looks at her.  Susanna was very kind and listed the ways she was different from her twin.  Why do you think Will stayed away from his family so much?

7.      Why didn’t Will tell Agnes about the subject of his new play?

8.      There were no chapter headings or signals that the author was changing times in the story.  Did you like this?  Did you have trouble figuring out where you were in the timeline?

9.      Did you like/enjoy this book?  Is there a difference between ”liking” a book and appreciating the writing?