I listened to this book on audio and it was such a treat. The narration is excellent – so that always helps – but what I really loved about it were all the small observances. O’Farrell starts describing – a street scene, an emotional response – but rather than stopping at the first layer of the thing, she draws the reader further into its essence, layer by layer.

The story is about a witchy woman Agnes, married to William Shakespeare (although he is never specifically named), the lives of women, the experience of living on the outskirts of a community, a mother’s love for her children, parental grief, loss and so much more.

I loved the relationships, the wildness of Agnes, the ways in which Agnes’ psychic abilities are treated – by the author – as a gift for all who encounter her (even when the community doesn’t entirely understand that gift). For me, this was a five-star read. If you don’t like lyrical writing, this may not be your cup of tea, but do consider the audio version. Having someone read lyrical prose to you is a very different experience from reading it yourself on the page.