In 1580s Warwickshire, a young Latin tutor falls for a woman unlike any other. Agnes is a fiercely independent spirit, a healer who moves through the forest with a kestrel on her glove, and a woman whispered to have unusual gifts. She is more at home in the natural world than in the company of others. Their passionate connection creates a family: a daughter, Susanna, and then twins, Hamnet and Judith. But their life together is torn apart by a sudden loss. The death of one of the children in 1596 becomes the silent, unnamed center of their marriage and their grief.
This is a story that gives voice to the forgotten figures of history. It is a tender and devastating portrait of a marriage, a family shattered by grief, and a woman's profound love for her children. It explores the story behind one of the most famous plays ever written, reimagining the life of a boy whose name was given to a tragic hero but whose own story has been lost to time. It is an exploration of the healing power of art and a testament to the fact that even the deepest sorrow can be transformed into something lasting and beautiful.