NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The beloved author of The Handmaid’s Tale reimagines Shakespeare’s final, great play, The Tempest, in a gripping and emotionally rich novel of passion and revenge. “A marvel of gorgeous yet economical prose, in the service of a story that’s utterly heartbreaking yet pierced by humor, with a plot that retains considerable subtlety even as the original’s back story falls … subtlety even as the original’s back story falls neatly into place.”—The New York Times Book Review
Felix is at the top of his game as artistic director of the Makeshiweg Theatre Festival. Now he’s staging aTempest like no other: not only will it boost his reputation, but it will also 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. And also brewing revenge, which, after twelve years, arrives in the shape of a theatre course at a nearby prison.
Margaret Atwood’s novel take on Shakespeare’s play of enchantment, retribution, and second chances leads us on an interactive, illusion-ridden journey filled with new surprises and wonders of its own.
Praise for Hag-Seed
“What makes the book thrilling, and hugely pleasurable, is how closely Atwood hews to Shakespeare even as she casts her own potent charms, rap-composition included. . . . Part Shakespeare, part Atwood, Hag-Seed is a most delicate monster—and that’s ‘delicate’ in the 17th-century sense. It’s delightful.”—Boston Globe
“Atwood has designed an ingenious doubling of the plot of The Tempest: Felix, the usurped director, finds himself cast by circumstances as a real-life version of Prospero, the usurped Duke. If you know the play well, these echoes grow stronger when Felix decides to exact his revenge by conjuring up a new version of The Tempest designed to overwhelm his enemies.”—Washington Post
“A funny and heartwarming tale of revenge and redemption . . . Hag-Seed is a remarkable contribution to the canon.”—Bustle
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As a Shakespeare aficionado since high school (yes my high school offered two classes on Shakespeare – comedies and tragedies) and a devoted Margaret Atwood fan forever, I was so pleased to hear she had taken on the challenge of retelling Shakespeare’s The Tempest for Hogarth Shakespeare. Atwood did not disappoint (does she ever?). Not only did Atwood weave an engrossing tale of deceit, revenge and redemption, she also amazingly adhered to Shakespeare’s work, deftly weaving the play into her story, providing the reader with The Tempest the play within Hag-Seed the novel.
Hag-Seed is Atwood at her best. The story of Felix, the spurned theater director turned hermit turned theater director for prisoners at a nearby prison is thrilling with supernatural elements, thought-provoking characters, and a plot that thickens with every chapter. Atwood’s wit and creative brilliance shine through the her well-developed characters and the ingenious twists of plot. A nice introduction to The Tempest for the novice with the tortured Felix as a guide. For the Shakespeare enthusiast, Atwood provides a solid analysis of the Tempest in contemporary form. Definitely a book not to be missed!
This is probably my favorite book by Atwood, which is saying quite a bit. I am awed by her versatility. Is there nothing this woman can’t write, and write well? In the case of Hag-Seed, this book had what is for me a magical combination of razor-sharp humor and heart, in a balance that made me laugh (often) and cry (less often but just as spontaneously). I’ve purchased several copies to give to friends, all of whom have enjoyed it even if they haven’t loved it quite as much as I did. Atwood deftly pulls the reader along on a mad dash that frequently careens off of one absurdity only to run headlong into another, but somehow it still works as a deeply human story of the main character’s years-long redemption and recovery from multiple tragedies, and therefore it also works beautifully as a parallel to The Tempest, which is its intent. Pick it up for the hilarity, and stay with it for the deeply human story it unfolds.
This is Margaret Atwood’s addition to the Hogarth Series of the retelling of Shakespeare’s plays and is modern telling of the Tempest. My favorite part is that the protagonist is staging The Tempest in the local prison and will only allow the inmate-actors to use the curse words which are used in the play: hence Hag-Seed. As is the play, the ending is a bit ragged. I recommend!
I found Hag-seed to be very clever. Shakespeare’s original is all there and yet made very current. It is apt, amusing, and beautifully written.
Not my favorite Awtood book, but highly original, and I love her ability to build characters through tiny details and nuances. I have a whole new appreciation for Shakespeare’s Tempest after this book because of her clever meta-Tempest plot. The ending was a bit of a letdown, but the quality of the writing more than makes up for that. The story itself, and its lead character have stayed with me.
Hag Seed is a micro-world offering from Atwood compared to the broader, more sweeping dystopian works for which she’s best known. Hag Seed takes an inside look at revenge – as a theatre director is usurped and plots a life-defining comeback to destroy the man who he perceives stole his career from him. IT’s a beautiful, if disturbing work. Atwood masters vitriol but sets it within the context of personal tragedy. May not be what fans of The Handmaid’s Tale are looking for, but if you want a good look at close up character writing, then this is for you.
This is a highly original exploration of the theme of vengeance inspired by Shakespeare’s play, the Tempest. Stabbed in the back by his assistant director while grief-stricken by the death of his young daughter, Felix disappears from view for several years. The need to earn a living draws him to the Fletcher Correctional Facility where he begins teaching a literacy course based on producing Shakespearean plays. When his nemesis – now a politician – comes within reach, Felix uses the Bard, the inmates, and an inspired production of The Tempest to exact revenge.
The plot is delicious in its deviousness, and the cast of characters is wonderful and real. They stayed with me long after I closed the book. The inmates/actors’ final assignment – what happens to their character after they leave the enchanted island – is pure delight. Highly recommended.
The plot of Hagseed is quite intricate. It starts with a proposed production of The Tempest in a theater festival and moves
to a production in a prison of The Tempest. The author throws in episodes from the past to add to the complexity.
The main character’s imaginings, loves, and motives are described in detail. His physical appearance is described so well that one seems to actually know him.
The author describes the settings of the book st length, describing buildings, weather, plants, and meals so abundantly that one’s mind can see them clearly.
Margaret Atwood’s HAG-SEED . . . TEMPEST RETOLD presents conspiracy, betrayal, an old mad ruler in exile . . . seems fitting.
Setting THE TEMPEST in a prison added insights to so much, like the requests for “pardon” (and applause) at the end of TEMPEST and M. N’s DREAM . . . actors and theaters of the time were only a royal pardon away from prison and being closed down, theater being the immoral pretense that it was/is, challenging the status quo. Bravo to those bringing arts to prisons, and Brava, Margaret Atwood for a book that so thoroughly captivates and inspires. Revenge, forgiveness, creation in the face of chaos. It was just what I needed right now.
I loved the premise of this book, and it was an easy read. The prose flowed well, and I wanted to come back to it and read more. I didn’t 100% agree with the interpretation of The Tempest, but that’s fine. There are certainly many ways to read each of Shakespeare’s plays. The reason that I’m giving this book three stars, is because I found the climax way too convenient – unbelievably so to the point that it almost ruined the entire book for me. I get that this book is blending the genres of theater and literature, and as such a certain degree of suspended disbelief should be afforded the story, as is afforded theater.
**SPOILER ALERT**
However, Tony,one of the people that Felix was taking his revenge on, was the artistic director of the Makeshiweg Theatre Festival. A festival that regularly did Shakespeare. As such, he would have been familiar with the Tempest. Even if he hadn’t realized during the “prison riot” that Felix was reenacting the play in real life, he should have realized it afterwards. With that realization he could say that he was playing along with Felix’s integrative theater experience, which would have explained all of his behavior and negated Felix’s blackmail. Everybody in the revenge plot rolled over and did exactly what Felix wanted, no questions asked, as if he was asking them to give up a couple of bucks instead of their entire careers. I don’t buy it. People who are that power-hungry and back-handed would not have given up that easily. It went beyond suspension of disbelief and into far-fetched. This book should have ended with Felix in jail with his acting troop, instead of living happily ever after.