Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood

Hag-Seed (Hogarth Shakespeare)

by Margaret Atwood

The 'riotous, insanely readable' (Observer) retelling of The Tempest from the 2019 Booker Prize-winning author of THE TESTAMENTS.

‘Riotous, insanely readable and just the best fun...'Observer

Felix is at the top of his game as Artistic Director of the Makeshiweg Theatre Festival. His productions have amazed and confounded. Now he’s staging a Tempest like no other. It will boost his reputation. It will heal emotional wounds.

Or that was the plan. Instead, after an act of unforeseen treachery, Felix is living in exile in a backwoods hovel, haunted by memories of his beloved lost daughter, Miranda. Also brewing revenge.

After twelve years, revenge finally arrives in the shape of a theatre course at a nearby prison. Here, Felix and his inmate actors will put on his Tempest and snare the traitors who destroyed him. It’s magic! But will it remake Felix as his enemies fall?

**LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2017**

Reviewed by teachergorman on

5 of 5 stars

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When I found out Margaret Atwood was writing her own retelling of The Tempest at the same time I was, I made a point to avoid it so I wouldn't be influenced. I also felt palpable excitement and immediate despair; I was so excited to see what she would do with it and sad to know mine would never measure up. Atwood did not disappoint, but luckily we went in very different directions. Her version's setting is clever, and she resolved some of the problematic issues in the play in a creative way. The writing, as always, is astounding. I loved this book and hope to someday get a chance to talk to Ms. Atwood about her thought process as she wrote it. I figure we're not in a pretty exclusive club, even if I am the far less talented member!

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