Maggie O'Farrell | Loves, Labours, Loss | Edinburgh International Book Festival

Edinburgh-based Maggie O’Farrell hit a spectacular new career high last year with the publication of 'Hamnet' – winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, a huge bestseller across the world and unquestionably a standout book of 2020. Why did O’Farrell’s novel about the death of Shakespeare’s only son strike such a chord with readers?

It certainly didn’t do any harm that the story was set in a time of pandemic. But more fundamentally, Hamnet was striking for its compelling and deeply insightful depiction of a mother’s love for her children. Fierce maternal devotion – and the aching sense of loss – will form the heart of today’s event about the experiences that have shaped her writing and ideas. O’Farrell discusses the influence of a mild neurological condition on her work.

A childhood bout of encephalitis resulted in a number of small but important changes in her mental and bodily performance, including balance issues, inhibited proprioception and stammering. How have these influenced O’Farrell’s writing? Join her for a fascinating discussion with fellow author Nicola Morgan.


📚 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL 2021 📚

This event was part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2021, a hybrid book festival with a fabulous online programme of over 250 events for adults and children.

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