Stratford Literary Festival Visit

On Friday 12 June, I went to hear Maggie O’Farrell speak in Stratford Upon Avon about her new novel, Land. 

O’Farrell is probably best known for her acclaimed novel Hamnet. The book has been adapted for the stage and was performed by the RSC. More recently, it has been adapted for the screen. The screenplay was nominated for an Oscar, and its leading actress, Jessie Buckley, has received widespread acclaim, winning major awards including a BAFTA and Golden Globe. 

Hamnet is inspired by the death of Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet. O’Farrell remarked that “coming to Stratford feels like coming home” because she had spent so long writing about the town and later returned to research locations for the film adaptation. She has also planted two trees in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church to commemorate Shakespeare’s children, Hamnet and Judith. Although both children were buried there, neither had a marker that visitors could easily identify. O’Farrell explained that she wanted to tell the story of Shakespeare’s family life from a different perspective, focusing on his wife, Anne Hathaway. 

Her latest novel, Land, is inspired by her family history in Ireland. It tells the story of a man and his family who are involved in mapping the land following the Irish Famine. O’Farrell said that, contrary to popular belief, she actually writes “about what she doesn’t know”, researching extensively until the story forms a “three-dimensional model” in her mind. Rather than planning every detail in advance, she allows the writing process itself to shape the way the story unfolds. It was fascinating to hear about her approach to writing. 

Not only is O’Farrell passionate about writing, but she is also an enthusiastic reader. She suffered a long illness as a child and recalled that reading was all she could do. She described starting at one end of her bookshelf, reading every book in turn, and then beginning again from the start. Her father, however, would only read Irish myths to her, an influence that may well have inspired elements of her latest novel. 

I have read and enjoyed several of O’Farrell’s books, which span a wide range of subjects and genres. Although her novels are always centred on people, they are set in periods ranging from the sixteenth century to the present day. Her most recent works have received the greatest recognition, with the success of Hamnet leading the way. The screen rights to both The Marriage Portrait and Land have also been acquired, so watch this space.  - Ella