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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.
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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.