Laertes

Chapter 1

To those who studied Hamlet with me, who came up with conspiracy theories about Gertrude’s guilt, who flopped dramatically on the floor, who performed soliloquies with honest conviction, who told David Tennant that Hamlet was his best work, who read the Player King with an “old man voice”, who wrote moving essays about Hamlet’s silence, thank you. Teaching you has been one of the greatest joys of my life.

HamletMany people helped with making this book, from my writing group (Ed, Debbie, and Amanda—you are wonderful!) to Frederik Virklund and Laura Kiel, the lovely people at Kronborg Castle who graciously answered my questions. I was inspired and encouraged by Nicole Galland and Dr. John Freeh. Luke Monson, Julien-like, confirmed my Latin. Elizabeth Vietor lent suggestions about Classics that I wouldn’t have considered on my own. My beta readers asked probing questions, pointed out problems, and made me believe this story worked Thank you particularly to Quinn, Summer, Lily, Elizabeth, Carolyn, Rachel, and Syd.

The primary versions of Hamlet I consulted were the editions edited by A.R. Braunmuller and Burton Raffel, respectively.

Hamlet