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Shakespeare
Ophelia: Queen of Denmark
Following on from I AM JULIET (August 2014), this is the second title in a proposed new series for young people that focuses on the reinterpretation of Shakespeare's classic and enduring plays. Ages: 10+
She is the girl who will be queen: Ophelia, daughter of Denmarks lord chancellor and loved by Prince Hamlet.
But while Hamlets family stab, poison or haunt one another, Ophelia plans a sensible rule, one filled with justice and the making of delicious cheeses. Even if she has to pretend to be mad to make it happen, Ophelia will let nothing, not even howling ghosts, stand in her way.
This is Shakespeares play, but with what might also have happened behind the scenes. And this story has a happy ending.
From Jackie French, one of Australias most respected and awarded authors and the Australian Childrens Laureate and 2015 Senior Australian of the Year, comes a book that reimagines the life of one of Shakespeares most intriguing female characters.
She is the girl who will be queen: Ophelia, daughter of Denmarks lord chancellor and loved by Prince Hamlet.
But while Hamlets family stab, poison or haunt one another, Ophelia plans a sensible rule, one filled with justice and the making of delicious cheeses. Even if she has to pretend to be mad to make it happen, Ophelia will let nothing, not even howling ghosts, stand in her way.
This is Shakespeares play, but with what might also have happened behind the scenes. And this story has a happy ending.
From Jackie French, one of Australias most respected and awarded authors and the Australian Childrens Laureate and 2015 Senior Australian of the Year, comes a book that reimagines the life of one of Shakespeares most intriguing female characters.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 22, 2015
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318 people want to read
About the author
Jackie French
318 books864 followersJackie is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres - from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction. In her capacity as Australian Children’s Laureate, ‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
September 15, 2015
*This review also appears on my blog Genie In A Book*
Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Having read and studied Hamlet this year, I always found Ophelia to be a particularly interesting character - as she's one who is partly overshadowed by the other dramas of the tragic protagonist. In this beautifully told and somewhat re-imagined tale, the author has shed light on the type of person Ophelia was behind her seemingly demure disposition. Adding her magic touch, Jackie French has only enriched the story of this play which has captivated audiences for centuries.
In this novel there is an effortless weaving of the original plot of the play, with a few adjustments which although nontraditional, make the story that much more enthralling. Ophelia proves to be much more than just a subservient daughter bound by filial duty. Instead, she is portrayed as an intelligent young woman attempting to discern the ever-changing and duplicitous court around her. Elsinore Castle and Hamlet himself, as well as the ghosts she encounters leave more mystery behind and questions unanswered. It was fascinating to read about how she developed as a person who began to see through the lies, and offer her perceptions into Queen Gertrude's actions as well.
What is also refreshing is that this rendition is unpredictable. If you know the play, you'll notice the little nuances which have been highlighted, modified, or altered altogether. Though this is ultimately still a tragedy, there is also a sense of hope which reaches even further beyond Shakespeare's script. I think that this would be fantastic for readers who perhaps didn't connect with Hamlet but are willing to read a similar piece of prose. I dare say however that even the most educated fans could take something away from Ophelia; Queen of Denmark as another literary insight into one of the most multifaceted yet understated women in Shakespearean drama.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This vividly told and richly envisioned novel was an absolute pleasure to read. Jackie French has once again shone as an author who can take something already great, and make it into an original tale that is just as captivating. If you like this sort of Shakespearean retelling, I'd definitely also recommend I Am Juliet.
Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Having read and studied Hamlet this year, I always found Ophelia to be a particularly interesting character - as she's one who is partly overshadowed by the other dramas of the tragic protagonist. In this beautifully told and somewhat re-imagined tale, the author has shed light on the type of person Ophelia was behind her seemingly demure disposition. Adding her magic touch, Jackie French has only enriched the story of this play which has captivated audiences for centuries.
Deep inside me, a small illusion broke. Hamlet had been born with a head to bear a crown, but did he have the stomach to be king?
In this novel there is an effortless weaving of the original plot of the play, with a few adjustments which although nontraditional, make the story that much more enthralling. Ophelia proves to be much more than just a subservient daughter bound by filial duty. Instead, she is portrayed as an intelligent young woman attempting to discern the ever-changing and duplicitous court around her. Elsinore Castle and Hamlet himself, as well as the ghosts she encounters leave more mystery behind and questions unanswered. It was fascinating to read about how she developed as a person who began to see through the lies, and offer her perceptions into Queen Gertrude's actions as well.
It was time for a new rule now. Kindness instead of hate. Compassion for our people. No shadows, no vengeance from the past. Just good sense, and cheese.
What is also refreshing is that this rendition is unpredictable. If you know the play, you'll notice the little nuances which have been highlighted, modified, or altered altogether. Though this is ultimately still a tragedy, there is also a sense of hope which reaches even further beyond Shakespeare's script. I think that this would be fantastic for readers who perhaps didn't connect with Hamlet but are willing to read a similar piece of prose. I dare say however that even the most educated fans could take something away from Ophelia; Queen of Denmark as another literary insight into one of the most multifaceted yet understated women in Shakespearean drama.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This vividly told and richly envisioned novel was an absolute pleasure to read. Jackie French has once again shone as an author who can take something already great, and make it into an original tale that is just as captivating. If you like this sort of Shakespearean retelling, I'd definitely also recommend I Am Juliet.
July 9, 2024
I read Hamlet in highschool, right around the time Kenneth Branagh's movie was released. I was always confounded by Ophelia especially as portrayed by Kate Winslet. To be honest, it's been stuck in my head ever since so I was slightly wary of this twist of Hamlet's retelling from Ophelia's perspective but yet, too curious to not read it. And I am so glad I did! I so much prefer this Ophelia as a character and this very very good ending.
Ophelia, as we know, was a noblewoman who went mad and then drowned in a brook. In this retelling, we briefly met Ophelia as a 6 year old girl before she transformed into a very capable intelligent girl if rather naive. Events transpired quite closely as per the play til near the end. Without giving too much away, let's just say that women in this novel are strong, clever, and very capable of running their homestead as well as the kingdom.
There were rather a lot of metaphors involving food from egg to sausage to cheese. Most especially cheese... Ophelia seems to be obsessed with cheese; both in the eating and the production of it. As usual, my stomach is ruled by what I read in books; I need cheese, now.
Ophelia, as we know, was a noblewoman who went mad and then drowned in a brook. In this retelling, we briefly met Ophelia as a 6 year old girl before she transformed into a very capable intelligent girl if rather naive. Events transpired quite closely as per the play til near the end. Without giving too much away, let's just say that women in this novel are strong, clever, and very capable of running their homestead as well as the kingdom.
There were rather a lot of metaphors involving food from egg to sausage to cheese. Most especially cheese... Ophelia seems to be obsessed with cheese; both in the eating and the production of it. As usual, my stomach is ruled by what I read in books; I need cheese, now.
November 17, 2022
I really enjoyed this retelling of Hamlet from Ophelia's point of view and thought it was well-done for a younger audience.
It is not that unpredictable or "twisted" a take on the Shakespearean play, instead it's a look from another perspective so the plot won't be a surprise to anyone familiar with the basic plot of Hamlet. However Ophelia's character and the other female characters are given much more agency and it's great to see how Ophelia might have thought in this story. I thought it made her a great character.
This is a good intro to Hamlet or an enjoyable retake for those familiar with the play and wanting to explore the female perspective.
Yes, the cheese references were quite heavy but I like cheese and the appendix about cheese making was fantastic!
It is not that unpredictable or "twisted" a take on the Shakespearean play, instead it's a look from another perspective so the plot won't be a surprise to anyone familiar with the basic plot of Hamlet. However Ophelia's character and the other female characters are given much more agency and it's great to see how Ophelia might have thought in this story. I thought it made her a great character.
This is a good intro to Hamlet or an enjoyable retake for those familiar with the play and wanting to explore the female perspective.
Yes, the cheese references were quite heavy but I like cheese and the appendix about cheese making was fantastic!
January 15, 2018
Jackie French, oh how I adore you! Every story you touch turns to gold! I adored this book, and loved the rewritten version of Hamlet, told from Ophelia's perspective. This is my first Jackie French novel for the year, and what a wonderful one to start on. I thoroughly enjoyed looking at this famous tale through the eyes of the highly underrated Ophelia, and found myself immersed in a fantasy world created by Jackie and Mr. Shakespeare alike. I would definitely recommend it.
December 15, 2022
Ophelia is the daughter of the Chancellor to the Danish court. As a child a ghost tells her she will be Queen of Denmark so she does all in her power to achieve this. This is a retelling of Shakespeare's Hamlet from the POV of Ophelia. It's an enjoyable tale, especially for those familiar with the play.
December 25, 2021
Not an accurate representation of Shakespeare's play in the details and was not the author's intention for it to be a factual recount. Instead it weaves in a story line that brings Shakespeare's play alive. Thoroughly enjoyable read and easy to enjoy.
December 19, 2022
So this is a re-read and the last time I read this I was about 8, and honestly this was almost as good as I remembered it, and it makes way more sense now than it did as a child.
February 26, 2021
......
May 10, 2016
Jackie French has done it again: written a novel based/inspired by Shakespeare and nailed it. When I was in high school reading Shakespeare I needed these books. Now I can simply enjoy them. She has also done Romeo and Juliet. I hope there are more.
August 6, 2016
Fantastic! A definite "To Read" if you're a teenager who loves Shakespeare!
May 3, 2019
It's clever how French pulls apart the seams of the world in Hamlet to show the largely invisible actions, motivations and relationships of women. The invisibility to men is one aspect of the book, but the ways in which the women are at times invisible to themselves or each other, at other times not as invisible as they think and a kind of intergenerational class solidarity builds between the women of the castle.
The the same time French constructs and deconstructs and reconstructs again and again a romance which really irritated me (I have to say) and is the sort of thing you would expect to find in a typical Young Adult's book only....well there's more to it than the immediately obvious. But Ophelia is not asexual, she has desires and yearnings complicating her other motivations. She is strongly written, always an agent but not always free. Her female (and generally default heterosexual) desire is one of the things working against her equality to the male characters, but she is headstrong enough to navigate that intelligently (when she learns she needs to).
Did anyone else apart from me think the hint was that Horatio was gay?
I wasn't crazy about the ending. I was sort of predicting that could happen but one of the key characters introduced so late was to me very unlikeable. Still Ophelia makes the best of that situation too!
It was interesting how much of the book was taken up by descriptions of food (especially cheese) and of outfits. I like a lot of visible food in a book and a couple of times I've been told this is "women's writing" that men tend to leave it out as unimportant. In a previous life I read some feminist article about that.
Oh it's also a version of Hamlet with a lot of Shakespeare's dialogue still used.
My nit-picks are nebulous and not really worth going into. This was a masterful use of the Young Adult genre to deliver something genuinely nuanced and provocative.
The the same time French constructs and deconstructs and reconstructs again and again a romance which really irritated me (I have to say) and is the sort of thing you would expect to find in a typical Young Adult's book only....well there's more to it than the immediately obvious. But Ophelia is not asexual, she has desires and yearnings complicating her other motivations. She is strongly written, always an agent but not always free. Her female (and generally default heterosexual) desire is one of the things working against her equality to the male characters, but she is headstrong enough to navigate that intelligently (when she learns she needs to).
Did anyone else apart from me think the hint was that Horatio was gay?
I wasn't crazy about the ending. I was sort of predicting that could happen but one of the key characters introduced so late was to me very unlikeable. Still Ophelia makes the best of that situation too!
It was interesting how much of the book was taken up by descriptions of food (especially cheese) and of outfits. I like a lot of visible food in a book and a couple of times I've been told this is "women's writing" that men tend to leave it out as unimportant. In a previous life I read some feminist article about that.
Oh it's also a version of Hamlet with a lot of Shakespeare's dialogue still used.
My nit-picks are nebulous and not really worth going into. This was a masterful use of the Young Adult genre to deliver something genuinely nuanced and provocative.
January 16, 2019
This book is not my usual wheelhouse. I'm big into covers (I know, I know), so if nothing else, the cover would normally put me off. But man. This was so good. I love retellings in all forms and fashions, and this retelling of Hamlet, focusing on Ophelia, is very clever. This Ophelia is a sharp, witty, cunning girl. Occasionally unlikable, always brave, this Ophelia is not a lovesick poor mad girl, but a fiercely smart one who knows what she wants.
February 11, 2025
*Spoiler free review*
AMAZING.
I had to read this book for my English this year, and yes I did read it all when the rest of the class was still on chapter two. I am not a big fan of Shakespeare and have never read Hamlet, but in class, I did a summary of it. I loved the plot, and how Jackie French adapted it, also the strong fmc was great! Definitely a must-read!
AMAZING.
I had to read this book for my English this year, and yes I did read it all when the rest of the class was still on chapter two. I am not a big fan of Shakespeare and have never read Hamlet, but in class, I did a summary of it. I loved the plot, and how Jackie French adapted it, also the strong fmc was great! Definitely a must-read!
August 10, 2017
I love a retelling of Hamlet, especially when Ophelia survives.
"But, my lady, what about your grave?"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2018
I think the ending was well deserved even tho I wasn't happy with it.
September 20, 2018
Incredible seeing 'Hamlet' from Ophelia's perspective.
May 29, 2019
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
June 29, 2020
amazing reimagining of hamlet, i loved ophelia!!
October 6, 2020
A pretty good reimagining of Hamlet for the YA market, involving a more spirited Ophelia and a lot of cheese. Literal cheese.
January 3, 2021
Why does everyone have to die?😢
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2021
Usually not a big fan of Jackie French except Fair Dinkum History series but I really enjoyed this Ophelia (and Macbeth and Son). I would dare say that it's even better than Shakespeare's Hamlet. ;-)
dnf
September 1, 2023Dnf
February 15, 2024
The plot was confusing, and the romance between all of the characters happened after a super short amount of tie
May 11, 2025
Once again an amazing book by Jackie, love how in the authors note she explains how to make cheese
June 8, 2025
So inspiring for girls
October 28, 2021
I started reading this book ages ago but never finished it, however after coming back to it years later I rated it 3.5 stars. This book involved young romance, betrayal, plotting, death, duty and had a somewhat happy ending unlike Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ which it was based off. While the ending can give readers more hope for Ophelias future and the future of Denmark, it is still surprising and I was both saddened and relieved by it.
Ophelia was portrayed as determined, intelligent, and passionate, while somewhat naive in her quest for love. The way in which she went about pursuing her desires and finding her purpose was very clever and put a spotlight on the independence of young women. I enjoyed the contrast between the actions that Ophelia carried out and her internal dialogue as it showed calculation and cleverness in her developing insanity.
This book is a great retelling of ‘Hamlet’ and I suspect that I may have just been too young for it the first time that I attempted to read it. I would recommend this book for ages 15+, particularly for those who are interested in reading more about background characters and retellings of old texts.
Ophelia was portrayed as determined, intelligent, and passionate, while somewhat naive in her quest for love. The way in which she went about pursuing her desires and finding her purpose was very clever and put a spotlight on the independence of young women. I enjoyed the contrast between the actions that Ophelia carried out and her internal dialogue as it showed calculation and cleverness in her developing insanity.
This book is a great retelling of ‘Hamlet’ and I suspect that I may have just been too young for it the first time that I attempted to read it. I would recommend this book for ages 15+, particularly for those who are interested in reading more about background characters and retellings of old texts.
July 4, 2024
The book was okay. I really enjoyed it at the start but around the 70 page mark I stopped reading the book for a while and just couldn’t pick it up again.
December 22, 2019
Jake French will forever have a special place in my heart as the most prominent author of my childhood so going into this book I had high expectations. I wasn't disappointed by this wonderful retelling.
Thirteen year old me would have devoured this book in a single sitting. It's a Hamlet retelling and it's done so perfectly for a younger YA audience. The storyline is not so much a romantic one, it had elements of love but that is not the main plot. The book contains a lovely portrayal of first love that captures the feelings and questioning of the idea of love and actually loving someone, but it only takes up a small portion of the over all plot.
The main storyline is fantastic, women are so empowered in this book, the female support for one another is great and Jackie French really challenges the patriarchy in a way that engages younger YA readers. The intelligence and cunning of the woman in this book challenges the traditional values places on woman and encourages readers to do the same.
The characters are brilliant (as always). Ophelia is well written, her character development is fantastic as she grows from the girl at the beginning to the woman of the ending. She's a narrator that is both funny and smart, her beauty mentioned in passing but the emphasis is placed firmly on her love for Denmark and her intellect.
The side characters are great too, the Queen is characterised in such a way that she becomes a role model not only for Ophelia but also for the young readers and the role of Ophelia's father is written honourably.
In short this book is a fun, well written retelling that really portrays a positive message to younger readers. I highly recommend it, but especially for the younger YA readers, Jackie French has so many excellent books, this is certainly one of them.
Thirteen year old me would have devoured this book in a single sitting. It's a Hamlet retelling and it's done so perfectly for a younger YA audience. The storyline is not so much a romantic one, it had elements of love but that is not the main plot. The book contains a lovely portrayal of first love that captures the feelings and questioning of the idea of love and actually loving someone, but it only takes up a small portion of the over all plot.
The main storyline is fantastic, women are so empowered in this book, the female support for one another is great and Jackie French really challenges the patriarchy in a way that engages younger YA readers. The intelligence and cunning of the woman in this book challenges the traditional values places on woman and encourages readers to do the same.
The characters are brilliant (as always). Ophelia is well written, her character development is fantastic as she grows from the girl at the beginning to the woman of the ending. She's a narrator that is both funny and smart, her beauty mentioned in passing but the emphasis is placed firmly on her love for Denmark and her intellect.
The side characters are great too, the Queen is characterised in such a way that she becomes a role model not only for Ophelia but also for the young readers and the role of Ophelia's father is written honourably.
In short this book is a fun, well written retelling that really portrays a positive message to younger readers. I highly recommend it, but especially for the younger YA readers, Jackie French has so many excellent books, this is certainly one of them.
January 15, 2020
In general I quite enjoyed this novel. It's fairly short and easy to read, and I thought the worldbuilding was also very good. I had a clear mental image of the setting and the people involved in Ophelia's life. I quite enjoyed the descriptions of food and clothing and the general running of the castle. But I did get sick of Ophelia's cheese references.
Written in first person from Ophelia's point of view, we get to see Shakespeare's play from a different (female) perspective. For the most part, I liked this version of Ophelia. She's a little naive, but generally straightforward and pragmatic (at least in her internal narration).
I found the change between Ophelia's internal voice and the flowery Shakespearean 'courtly speak' used between characters quite jarring. It only started happening from the middle of the book, and I don't understand Shakespeare at the best of times, so I was pretty confused when it first appeared. It was like Jackie French just dropped lines from the play straight into a completely different style of writing.
I didn't like Ophelia's relationship with Hamlet at all. It was weird and kind of smacked of insta-love. That being said, it does mirror the play, and Ophelia does reflect on it, which was a relief.
The novel explores themes ranging from greed, to gender divisions to what makes a good ruler.
Other than that, I thought the middle dragged a bit, but I thought the twists on the original play were clever and original.
Written in first person from Ophelia's point of view, we get to see Shakespeare's play from a different (female) perspective. For the most part, I liked this version of Ophelia. She's a little naive, but generally straightforward and pragmatic (at least in her internal narration).
I found the change between Ophelia's internal voice and the flowery Shakespearean 'courtly speak' used between characters quite jarring. It only started happening from the middle of the book, and I don't understand Shakespeare at the best of times, so I was pretty confused when it first appeared. It was like Jackie French just dropped lines from the play straight into a completely different style of writing.
I didn't like Ophelia's relationship with Hamlet at all. It was weird and kind of smacked of insta-love. That being said, it does mirror the play, and Ophelia does reflect on it, which was a relief.
The novel explores themes ranging from greed, to gender divisions to what makes a good ruler.
Other than that, I thought the middle dragged a bit, but I thought the twists on the original play were clever and original.
December 3, 2015
3.85 Stars
Took me a while to get into and ages to read with school and all. But still rather enjoyable. I think I would have enjoyed it more had I not known the plot of Hamlet well like I did before reading this, to know this story has been twisted and changed instead of being like the original test. The author Jackie French has a clever mind, which is why she is one of Australia's most loved authors no wonder she is the 2015 Senior Australian of The Year. A book worth buying.
This would be a good introduction to Shakepseare's plays and characters. Especially that of the undermined female characters. I can't wait to read I Am Juliet as well as the other stories of Shakespeare's other iconic female leads in his play.
I found it somewhat predictable in most places but I must say I wasn't expecting that ending, well I knew the ending of the play but I mean the happy ending
Took me a while to get into and ages to read with school and all. But still rather enjoyable. I think I would have enjoyed it more had I not known the plot of Hamlet well like I did before reading this, to know this story has been twisted and changed instead of being like the original test. The author Jackie French has a clever mind, which is why she is one of Australia's most loved authors no wonder she is the 2015 Senior Australian of The Year. A book worth buying.
This would be a good introduction to Shakepseare's plays and characters. Especially that of the undermined female characters. I can't wait to read I Am Juliet as well as the other stories of Shakespeare's other iconic female leads in his play.
I found it somewhat predictable in most places but I must say I wasn't expecting that ending, well I knew the ending of the play but I mean the happy ending
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews