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Maggie O’Farrell talks to Sophie Raworth

Land: A New Novel Inspired by Her Own Family History

Hay Festival 2026, 

Maggie O’Farrell, the award-winning author of Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait, gives an exclusive preview of her highly-anticipated new novel, Land, ahead of its publication. Inspired by O’Farrell’s own family history and by the Irish landscape to which she has a deep personal attachment, Land is a multi-generational epic exploring love, loss and the ties that bind us to place and time. In this special event, O’Farrell discusses her craft as one of today’s most captivating storytellers, and reflects on the huge success of the film adaptation of Hamnet, starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. This session is unmissable for lovers of literary fiction, fans of historical, character-driven novels and anyone intrigued by the art of beautiful, immersive writing.

Maggie O’Farrell talks to Sophie Raworth