Maggie O’Farrell is one of the most captivating authors of this decade, and her last two novels confirm it.
Why the Term “Classic” is Overused
The author begins by expressing her disagreement with the overuse of the term “classic” in literary critiques. She argues that critics and reviewers tend to label works as “instant classics” or “contemporary classics,” particularly in music and film reviews. She admits her imprudence as a mere enthusiastic reader rather than a serious literary critic.
O’Farrell’s Recent Novels: Contemporary Classics
Despite being a relatively unknown author outside of Great Britain and its neighboring countries, especially in Spanish-speaking regions where her novels were not previously translated, O’Farrell’s recent works have garnered international attention. Her novel Hamnet marked her breakthrough, leading to translations in multiple languages, including Spanish.
The author passionately describes both Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait as contemporary classics, emphasizing their emotional impact and the challenge they present to readers. She recommends exploring O’Farrell’s work, available through Libros del asteroide, a publisher known for quality translations.
A Closer Look at Maggie O’Farrell’s Novels
Hamnet, based on the Shakespeare family, centers around a dreamy teenage boy whose unnamed character is pursued by a practical, herb-loving woman named Agnes Hathaway (a fictionalized version of Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s wife). Agnes, portrayed as admirable and pragmatic, contrasts her husband’s artistic, ethereal world. The novel follows the lives of their twin children, Judith and Hamnet, as they grow up, eventually facing the tragedy of loss when Shakespeare’s absenteeism due to his artistic pursuits leaves them vulnerable.
The Marriage Portrait tells the story of Lucrezia de Medici, the young Duchess of Ferrara, who dies under mysterious circumstances—possibly poisoned by her husband, Alfonso II. The novel draws inspiration from Robert Browning’s narrative poem “My Last Duchess,” capturing Lucrezia’s curiosity, intelligence, and misunderstanding by her family. The story unfolds as Lucrezia’s life is gradually suffocated by her husband, leaving readers heartbroken.
Maggie O’Farrell’s Broader Literary Career
With over a decade of writing under her belt and more than ten books to her name, including the memoir I am, I am, I am: Seventeen Brushes with Death, O’Farrell continues to captivate readers. The author promises to share her thoughts on this memoir after finishing it, expressing optimism about not being disappointed.
