Hamnet: Fact or Fiction?"

Maggie O'Farrell's novel Hamnet explores the lives of the Shakespeare family in the aftermath of the death of their only son in 1596. Similarly, the oscar-nominated film version of the novel focuses on the overwhelming grief of Hamnet's mother Agnes, and suggests that her husband William channeled his grief into creating the timeless tragedy of Hamlet.

While both the film and the novel are brilliant achievements, how true are both works to the real lives of the Shakespeares? Do these works represent matters of history and biography faithfully, or do they rely more on 'reimagining' the Shakespeares' lives in the wake of Hamnet's death? Join Shakespeare expert Professor Rusty Jones as he answers such questions and explores the truth behind the Shakespeares' daily lives in Stratford-Upon-Avon at the turn of the Seventeenth Century.

Please join us at the Calloway County Public Library on Tuesday, March 3rd from 6-7 PM for this fascinating discussion. This event is sponsored by the Calloway County Public Library, WKMS Public Radio, and the Murray Shakespeare Festival. Admission is free and open to everyone. Light refreshments will be available.