Hamnet Cover
Podcast Mentions

Hamnet

Maggie O'Farrell

NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER • England, 1580: The Black Death creeps across the land, an ever-present threat, infecting the healthy, the sick, the old and the young alike. The end of days is near, but life always goes on.

Podcasts 9
Quotes 31
The Daily

Podcast

The Daily

The book was highlighted as a heart‑wrenching historical novel about the loss of Shakespeare's son and the resulting grief of his parents. Chloé Zhao explained that the story resonated with her personal struggles and even helped her through a difficult period, while the host noted its powerful emotional impact. Both speakers praised its portrayal of grief and its relevance across time.

Highly Recommended

Episode: 'The Interview': Chloé Zhao Is Yearning to Know Ho...

This historical novel, which Chlo Zhao adapted into a film, was about the death of Shakespeare's young son from the plague and the grief experienced by his parents. The author of the book stated that she does not believe the grief experienced from losing a child is any less now than it was in Shakespeare's time. Chlo Zhao mentioned that making the film adaptation of this book saved her in many ways while she was going through a difficult personal period.

"

And her latest is last fall's heart-wrenching drama, Hamnet, an adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's historical novel about the death of Shakespeare's young son from the plague and the grief his parents experienced after.

Maggie said that she doesn't believe it's possible that the grief is any less.

And Hamnet, by the way, was what saved me in many ways, to have that film during that time.

And if you see in Hamnet, Will couldn't express his grief. But he could write a play about it. And then create such an intimate environment for people to grieve together. But he himself maybe hoping through the act of doing that, he himself could grieve.

SmartLess

Podcast

SmartLess

The hosts asked Jeremy if he had seen the film adaptation of Hamnet, indicating awareness of the novel.

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you guys see Hamnet?

— Episode: "Jeremy Allen White"

Episode: "Jeremy Allen White"

The hosts asked Jeremy if he had seen the film adaptation of Hamnet, indicating awareness of the novel.

"

you guys see Hamnet?

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

They noted that they loved the guest's performance in Hamnet and called it great.

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What I was going to say, I feel like, hey, you know what? I loved you in Hamnet. You were great.

— Episode: Bley’s Fastballs Part I

Episode: Bley’s Fastballs Part I

They noted that they loved the guest's performance in Hamnet and called it great.

"

What I was going to say, I feel like, hey, you know what? I loved you in Hamnet. You were great.

Episode: Bley’s Fastballs Part I

One of the hosts said they loved the guest's performance in the novel Hamnet.

"

I loved you in Hamnet.

The Rest Is History

Dominic Sandbrook announced Hamnet as a selection for a future book club episode. The title was briefly mentioned as part of an upcoming lineup of books to be discussed on the podcast.

Episode: The Book Club: Wuthering Heights

The book was listed as part of the lineup for future episodes of the new podcast.

"

We have Hamnet.

Episode: 646. The Fall of the Incas: Death to the Emperor (...

This book was listed among the modern stories the hosts intended to cover on their new podcast, The Book Club.

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So Game of Thrones, Normal People, The Hunger Games, Hamnet, all manner of exciting stories.

Episode: 649. The Fall of the Incas: The Last Emperor (Part...

Hamnet was mentioned as one of the modern books that will be explored on the Book Club.

"

And then also some more modern stuff. So Game of Thrones, Normal People, The Hunger Games, Hamnet, all manner of exciting stories.

The Dan Le Batard Show

The hosts highlighted the book as a powerful story about Shakespeare's child, mistakenly referring to it as a film and praising its emotional depth. They noted it as a strong awards contender and placed it high on their personal top‑ten list, mentioning it alongside other emotionally resonant works.

Highly Recommended

Episode: Hour 1: Bad Friend, Worse Person, Great Fan (feat....

The hosts mentioned it as one of the titles they were discussing, noting it alongside other emotionally powerful works.

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One Battle After Another and Hamnet. And there's movies that are fully emotional and really smart movies.

Episode: The Big Suey: The Jewban Dan Le Batard (feat. Davi...

The hosts discussed Hamnet as a powerful story about Shakespeare's child, mistakenly calling it a film, and praised it as a strong contender for awards.

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It's about the creation of Hamlet, but it is called Hamnet.

the first Irish actress to be nominated in a movie called Hamnet, Tony.

I'll agree that it's a powerful film... Hamnet will be a film that will be justly rewarded... I had it at number four in my top ten.

Number four is Hamnet. Not Hamlet. Hamnet.

Episode: Hour 2: Mike & Zaslow Are Racists (feat. Amin Elha...

The book was dismissed as "boring and pointless," with the hosts comparing it to a version lacking any artistic touches and saying they didn't want to discuss it further.

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It's boring and pointless. That's what it is. It's hamnet without any artistic touches to it. Hamnet, by the way. Don't get me started on that one.

Fresh Air

Podcast

Fresh Air

The book was highlighted as a moving historical novel that imagines how Shakespeare's son's death may have inspired his greatest tragedy, with Terry Gross praising its emotional depth and inventive storytelling.

Highly Recommended

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The 2020 novel Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell, was described as a moving historical fiction that imagines how Shakespeare's son's death may have inspired the playwright's tragedy.

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In her moving 2020 novel, Hamnet, the Northern Irish writer Maggie O'Farrell explored the possibility that a reallife tragedy may have inspired one of the greatest fictional tragedies ever written.

The film, which also stars Jesse Buckley as Shakespeare's wife, was adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 novel.

Episode: A Look Back At Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’

The upcoming film "Hamnet" was described as being adapted from O'Farrell's 2020 novel, which explores a fictionalized account of Shakespeare's life and family tragedy.

"

The film ... was adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 novel.

The Dan Patrick Show

The hosts discussed "Hamnet" as the novel about Hamlet's brother, mistakenly thinking it might be a joke, and noted that a female character in the story was considered a strong awards favorite.

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No. It's Hamlet's brother is Hamnet. And the woman in there is considered the favorite, the biggest favorite for any category. I said to my wife, how great was she? She said, no, she was good. I said,...

— Episode: Hour 2 – The Raiders Have Options, Champ...

Episode: Hour 2 – The Raiders Have Options, Championship Sn...

The hosts discussed "Hamnet" as the novel about Hamlet's brother, mistakenly thinking it might be a joke, and noted that a female character in the story was considered a strong awards favorite.

"

No. It's Hamlet's brother is Hamnet. And the woman in there is considered the favorite, the biggest favorite for any category. I said to my wife, how great was she? She said, no, she was good. I said, she's an overwhelming favorite to be best actress.

Episode: The Best of The Dan Patrick Show

The hosts discussed Hamnet, noting it is a novel about Hamlet's brother and clarified it is a real published book, not a madeup title.

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And that's not real. No, it is. Hamnet. I thought you were making it up, and I was like, that's a good joke. No, it's Hamlet's brother is Hamnet. Hamnet.

And that's not real. No, it is. Hamnet. I thought you were making it up, and I was like, that's a good joke. No, it's Hamlet's brother is Hamnet.

Hamnet sounds like a Sandler movie, where he's the goofy younger brother of Hamlet. But I honestly thought you were making that up. Fritz, he did too.

KSR

Podcast

KSR

The hosts highlighted the book as an award‑winning recent bestseller that was also a Best Picture nominee, noting its portrayal of Shakespeare’s grief over his son’s death influencing his writing of Hamlet. They described the narrative as a compelling blend of historical fiction and literary insight, and recommended it for listeners interested in Shakespearean themes.

Highly Recommended

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They noted they hadn't seen it and thought it was a movie about Shakespeare writing Hamlet, mentioning Hamnet was the son who died at age 11.

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He had a son named Hamnet who died at the age of 11. ... They made a movie about the writing of Hamlet.

They believe, although they don't know for sure, that Hamlet was based on his son Hamnet's death.

Episode: 2026-02-05- KSR - Hour 2

This book was mentioned as a recent best picture nominee that also won awards, and it was about Shakespeare's life concerning the death of his child while writing Hamlet.

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one of the best picture nominees is Hamnet, which also won awards as a book just three or four years ago.

It's about how Shakespeare, when he was writing Hamlet, he had a kid die. Yeah. And so, he's writing about the kid dying, how it affected his writing of Hamlet.

Watch What Crappens

The book was discussed as a potential episode topic, described as being about Shakespeare losing a child and channeling that emotion into his writing.

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What is Hamnet about? I haven't seen it, but it's basically Shakespeare. Shakespeare has a child. Shakespeare loses the child and then puts that energy into writing.

— Episode: #3173 Below Deck Med S10E17 Part One: Mo...

Episode: #3173 Below Deck Med S10E17 Part One: Mob (Wife) M...

The book was discussed as a potential episode topic, described as being about Shakespeare losing a child and channeling that emotion into his writing.

"

What is Hamnet about? I haven't seen it, but it's basically Shakespeare. Shakespeare has a child. Shakespeare loses the child and then puts that energy into writing.

Why is it called Hamnet, though? Because apparently the name Hamnet and Hamlet were interchangeable names.

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