Similarly, “she would like to spin the wheel backwards, unmake the skein of Hamlet’s death” can be considered a direct allusion to Hamlet’s description of death as “this mortal coil” (Act III, Sc I). I): “Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth to dust the dust is earth of earth we make loam”. For example, “There is the soil and there is the body and it all comes to nothing” feels like a line from the Gravediggers scene (Act V, Sc. Throughout the novel, there are little quirks or snippets that can be directly compared to its more famous predecessor. These details and creations are also further demonstrated in O’Farrell’s use of language. O’Farrell creates a solid focus on the inner complexity of the relationships between parent and child as well as brother and sister in a way that makes the reader feel involved with each of their emotions and experiences. Furthermore, the workings of the novel which create a sense of family ties and links are also impressive. When talking about the forests and lands surrounding Stratford-upon-Avon, it is easy to imagine yourself there, basking in the sun with contemporary cottages, fields, and people. She creates deep and intense descriptions of her key characters and their surroundings. O’Farrell’s writing throughout the book is sublime.

Its title comes from the interchangeability of the name of the Danish Prince, its king, and the son of a Warwickshire bard. The novel is a beautiful exploration of life, grief, and family, framed within one of literature’s most famous families. Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet, inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, is premised on the events that surround the death of Shakespeare’s only son, Hamnet.

The Kingdom of Nought by M.J. O'Farrell