Her debut novel, after youd gone 2000, won a betty trask award and was followed by my. Told in her unique voice, hamnet reveals for the first time in fiction the story of heartbreaking loss. Ive been a huge admirer of maggie ofarrell s work ever since i read the hand that first held mine, which won the costa novel award, in 2011. It would feel very wrong to reconstruct a place from research or maps. It would feel very wrong to reconstruct a placemore ive visited all the places in the book. This page is run by tinder press, maggies uk publisher.
Maggie ofarrell is the author of seven novels, after youd gone, my lovers lover, the distance between us, which won a somerset maugham award, the vanishing act of esme lennox, the hand that first held mine, which won the 2010 costa novel award, instructions for a heatwave, which was shortlisted for the 20 costa novel award, and this must be the place. I was intrigued by the premise of her new book, in which she delves further back into history than she has before to imagine the context of the death of william shakespeares son hamnet and the effect it had on the playwrights work. Readalikes for maggie ofarrell if you like maggie o. The whole story was so interesting and i just engaged with it from the very start. Maggie ofarrell is on that list and after reading this book, ive read all of her published books to date.
The riordans family history unravels against the backdrop of the long hot summer of. The vanishing act of esme lennox by maggie ofarrell. Born in northern ireland in 1972, maggie ofarrell grew up in wales and scotland and now lives in london. It is a stunning piece of fiction that deserves all of the accolades it is receiving and i loved every single word of it. Apr 11, 2020 maggie ofarrell s writing is beautiful, with a breathtaking lyrical quality to it that has the ability to move you beyond words. Maggie ofarrell is the author of the sunday times no. Her twin brother, hamnet, searches everywhere for help. Feb 24, 2011 maggie ofarrell, 38, has written five novels, the latest of which, the hand that first held mine headline, won the 2010 costa novel award and is available in paperback now. Live event and book signing with bestselling author maggie ofarrell, introducing the heartstopping story of hamnet. She has twice been shortlisted for the costa novel award for instructions for a heatwave in 2014 and this.
Chosen as one of waterstones 25 authors for the future in 2007, northern irish author maggie ofarrell has gone on to become one of britains. Books by maggie ofarrell author of the vanishing act of. Maggie ofarrell s latest work is an immersive plaguehaunted book called hamnet. In this astonishing memoir, she shares the neardeath experiences that have punctuated and defined her life. When the opportunity came to be a part of the blog tour i absolutely jumped at the chance. Born in northern ireland in 1972, maggie ofarrell grew up in wales. Maggie ofarrell books list of books by author maggie o. But the beating heart of this book is hamnets mother an indelible, dauntless woman.
I love that ive done that, but then i was sorry i didnt have another to read by her so im thrilled to know that she has a new one to be published in 2020. Relying on a complex structure that recalls ofarrell s earlier work my lovers lover, 2003, etc. The story revolves around daniel sullivan, a thoughtful american linguist in a tumultuous winding relationship with claudette, an internationally famous actress. Well i has nothing to fear as if was simply wonderful. A story of family, secrets and forgiveness, this must be the place is about finding your way in the world. Publishers blurb drawing on maggie ofarrell s longterm fascination with the littleknown story behind shakespeares most enigmatic play, hamnet is a luminous portrait of a. Apr 05, 2020 when the opportunity came to be a part of the blog tour i absolutely jumped at the chance. Maggie ofarrell speaks about receiving specsavers bestseller awards for four of her novels, including the vanishing act of esme lennox houghton mifflin harcourt, 2007, and how she has.
Maggie o farrell born 27 may 1972 is an irishbritish novelist. February 6, 2018 maggie ofarrells first book of nonfiction is a memoir by turns thrilling and agonizing of all of her brushes with death. The childhood illness that left her bedridden for a year, which she was not expected to survive. Born in northern ireland in 1972, maggie o farrell grew up in wales and scotland. There are few things i look forward to like a maggie o farrell novel and she never disappoints cathy rentzenbrink, author of the last act of love there is tragedy in the novel, but also sharp comedy, and o farrell, skilful as ever, plays with the novel form. Yet again maggie ofarrell has tapped into the mundane and made it captivating. Maggie ofarrell born 27 may 1972 is an irishbritish novelist. Born in northern ireland in 1972, maggie ofarrell grew up in wales and scotland. This book by maggie ofarrell tells the story of william shakespeares wife and family.
With eerie timing, maggie ofarrells new novel about the death of shakespeares 11 year old son hamnet in 1596 from bubonic plague arrives. She has worked as a waitress, chambermaid, bike messenger, teacher, arts administrator, and journalist in hong kong and london, and as the deputy literary editor of the independent on sunday. Maggie ofarrells most popular book is the yellow wallpaper. Maggie ofarrell has to be one of the nations beloved authors, so it always a treat when she releases a new book. She received her undergraduate degree from victoria college at the university of toronto and her masters degree. In three separate interviews, one video, two text, maggie o farrell talks about the hand that first held mine, the vanishing act of esme lennox, how she became a writer and the major influences on her writing style. Maggie ofarrells sixth book is the work of an outstanding novelist at the height of her powers. On seventeen occasions, maggie ofarrell has stared death in the faceand lived to tell the tale.
As a child ill in bed for two years, i read all the time. After youd gone, my lovers lover, the distance between us, which won a somerset maugham award, the vanishing act of esme lennox, the hand that first held mine, which won the 2010 costa novel award. She has worked as a waitress, chambermaid, cycle courier, teacher, arts administrator and, most recently, as a journalist, both in hong kong and as the deputy literary editor of the independent on sunday her debut novel, after youd gone 2000, won a betty trask award, and was followed by two further novels. A magnificent novel that is perceptive, profound and pageturning in equal measures. The stunning new novel from costanovelawardwinning novelist maggie ofarrell.
I would never be able to write about somewhere i hadnt been. She has twice been shortlisted for the costa novel award for instructions for a heatwave in 2014 and this must be the place in 2017. Maggie ofarrell s latest novel, this must be the place, takes readers on a journey from contemporary ireland to brooklyn in the 1940s and to many, many places in between. It so happens that the child at the center of hamnet inspired one of civilizations most famous plays, but in maggie ofarrell s gifted hands, hamnet feels as real as my own child. Maggie ofarrell s new novel, instructions for a heatwave, is the story of a family that comes together in the middle of an unbearable summer to search for their father, who has gone missing. The books featured on this site are aimed primarily at readers aged or above and therefore you must be.
You can find out more about maggie ofarrell and her work on her website. Apr 04, 2020 i adored this book and feel so fortunate to have read it slightly in advance of everyone else. Hamnet is a book she says she has been wanting a write for a while after she learned about hamnet at school, and it is her first historical novel. Drawing on maggie ofarrell s longterm fascination with the littleknown story behind shakespeares most enigmatic play, hamnet is a luminous portrait of a marriage, at its heart the loss of a beloved child. Maggie ofarrell, 38, has written five novels, the latest of which, the hand that first held mine headline, won the 2010 costa novel award and is available in paperback now. Maggie ofarrell is the author of seven novels, after youd gone, my lovers lover, the distance between us, which won a somerset maugham award, the vanishing act of esme lennox, the hand that first held mine, which won the 2010 costa novel award, instructions for a heatwave, which was shortlisted for the 20 costa novel award, and this must. Browse maggie ofarrell tour dates and order tickets for upcoming shows near you. Maggie ofarrell has 23 books on goodreads with 258829 ratings. She has worked as a waitress, chambermaid, cycle courier, teacher, arts administrator and, most recently, as a journalist, both in hong kong and as the deputy literary editor of the independent on sunday. Maggie ofarrell is the latest modern writer to explore the mysterious life and early death of hamnet shakespeare published. Maggie ofarrell receives four silver awards everything you live through changes you, inevitably, and i think as you change, your writing changes. Maggie o farrell is the author of seven novels, after youd gone, my lovers lover, the distance between us, which won a somerset maugham award, the vanishing act of esme lennox, the hand that first held mine, which won the 2010 costa novel award, instructions for a heatwave, which was shortlisted for the 20 costa novel award, and this must be the place, which was shortlisted for the 2016. Maggie ofarrell s latest novel this must be the place is an absolute delight, the kind of book that makes reading that most selfindulgent and intoxicating of pleasures at its heart its.
Hamnet book signing with maggie ofarrell shakespeares globe. Margaret atwood was born in 1939 in ottawa, and grew up in northern ontario and quebec, and in toronto. It felt too much of a tax on friends and family, says maggie ofarrell. But this contemporary action is merely the finale of a drama thats been going on since esmes youth in india. In three separate interviews, one video, two text, maggie ofarrell talks about the hand that first held mine, the vanishing act of esme lennox, how she became a writer and the major influences on her writing style in three separate interviews, one video, two text, maggie ofarrell talks about the hand that first held mine, the vanishing act of esme lennox. Bestselling author maggie ofarrell s seventh novel, this must be the place, is a dazzling and intimate choice for the richard and judy summer 2017 book club. This spring maggie ofarrell launches a dazzling new novel hamnet. The author of such international bestsellers as after youd gone and the vanishing act of esme lennox, british novelist maggie ofarrell crafts complex, multilayered narratives that move back and forth in time and unfold from several perspectives. Maggie o farrell born 1972, coleraine northern ireland is a british author of contemporary fiction, who features in waterstones 25 authors for the future. The raw physical life of ofarrell s renaissance england is enthralling.
Awardwinning author maggie o farrell s new novel breathes fullblooded life into the story of a loss usually consigned to literary footnotes, and provides an unforgettable vindication of agnes, a woman intriguingly absent from history. I adored this book and feel so fortunate to have read it slightly in advance of everyone else. I was drawn to this book firstly by the beautiful cover and really wasnt sure what to expect from this book. The riordans family history unravels against the backdrop of the long hot summer of 1976, a scorching hot read.
Richard and judy introduce this must be the place by. Its my pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for hamnet today. Maggie ofarrells novel jumps among multiple storylines, points of view, times and places to tell the story of an american professor who meets a reclusive french actress on a lonely irish road. Maggie ofarrell s writing is beautiful, with a breathtaking lyrical quality to it that has the ability to move you beyond words. The author of such international bestsellers as after youd gone and the vanishing act of esme lennox, british novelist maggie o farrell crafts complex, multilayered narratives that move back and forth in time and unfold from several perspectives. Venue greenside church, 1b royal terrace, edinburgh, eh7 5ab. About i am, i am, i am i am i am i am is a gripping and glorious investigation of death that leaves the reader feeling breathless, grateful, and fully alive. Be sure to keep an eye on facebook and twitter too, as there are lots of things going on. If you want evidence that life can be just as dramatic as fiction, you couldnt wish for better than maggie ofarrells stunning memoir louise doughty, guardian books of the yearmaggie ofarrell is a highly accomplished author with seven novels to her name but she achieves something altogether more powerful and direct in this astonishing memoir. Feb 19, 20 yet again maggie o farrell has tapped into the mundane and made it captivating. Her debut novel after youd gone received international acclaim and won the betty trask award. Apr 11, 2020 awardwinning author maggie ofarrell s new novel breathes fullblooded life into the story of a loss usually consigned to literary footnotes, and provides an unforgettable vindication of agnes, a woman intriguingly absent from history.
Her later novel the hand that first held mine won the 2010 costa novel award. Maggie ofarrell is the author of seven novels, after youd gone, my lovers lover, the distance between us, which won a somerset maugham award, the vanishing act of esme lennox, the hand that first held mine, which won the 2010 costa novel award, instructions for a heatwave, which was shortlisted for the 20 costa novel award, and this must be the place, which was shortlisted for the. Jul 19, 2016 maggie o farrell s novel jumps among multiple storylines, points of view, times and places to tell the story of an american professor who meets a reclusive french actress on a lonely irish road. With lovely anne cater of random things tours stepping in to help out i was delighted to join in the blog tour to help celebrate the launch of hamnet. This page is run by tinder press, maggie s uk publisher. Maggie ofarrell ive visited all the places in the book. Apr 10, 2020 ive been a huge admirer of maggie ofarrell s work ever since i read the hand that first held mine, which won the costa novel award, in 2011. Chosen as one of waterstones 25 authors for the future in 2007, northern irish author maggie ofarrell has gone on to become one of britains most acclaimed and popular contemporary fiction writers. The vanishing act of esme lennox by maggie ofarrell kirkus. Simone padovaniawakeninggetty images one challenge of historical fiction is how to relate to. It is possible to identify several common themes in her novels the relationship between sisters is one, another is loss and the psychological impact of those losses on the lives of her. Agnes is a woman as feared as she is sought after for her unusual gifts.
Maggie ofarrell author of the vanishing act of esme lennox. With this book maggie ofarrell has taken her writing to a whole new level. Ann patchett an extraordinary memoirtold entirely in neardeath experiencesfrom one of britains bestselling novelists, for fans of wild, when. Told in her unique voice, hamnet reveals for the first time in fiction the story of heartbreaking loss which inspired shakespeares most celebrated play. On a summers day in 1596, a young girl in stratforduponavon takes to her bed with a fever. About the book on a summers day in 1596, a young girl in. Ive revealed the secrets ive spent my life hiding i never thought id write a memoir. Maggie ofarrell books list of books by author maggie ofarrell. Awardwinning author maggie ofarrell s new novel breathes fullblooded life into the story of a loss usually consigned to literary footnotes, and provides an unforgettable vindication of agnes, a woman intriguingly absent from history. Maggie ofarrell is the author of seven novels, after youd gone, my lovers lover, the distance between us, which won a somerset maugham award, the vanishing act of esme lennox, the hand that first held mine, which won the 2010 costa novel award, instructions for a heatwave, which was shortlisted for the 20 costa novel award, and this. Maggie o farrell is the author of seven novels, after youd gone, my lovers lover, the distance between us, which won a somerset maugham award, the vanishing act of esme lennox, the hand that first held mine, which won the 2010 costa novel award, instructions for a heatwave, which was shortlisted for the 20 costa novel award, and this must.
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